ACS Students Recognized for Achievement at World Scholar‘s Cup

On November 8, 2014, 20 students from the American College of Sofia took part in the World Scholars Cup, a unique academic competition. Based on their high-scoring performances, five teams from ACS qualified to compete in the World Finals round in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia next spring.

Held in Sofia for the first time, the World Scholars Cup featured four events: a scholarly debate; multiple choice test; persuasive writing exercise; and a team game-show-style quiz.

Students participated in all four events, and were evaluated on their knowledge, aptitude, ingenuity, and ability to construct strong arguments across a variety of subject matter from art and literature to science, math, and history. As an example, students were asked to consider the power of imagination versus reality as examined in pieces of literature such as the poem “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe, and the novel The Life of Pi by Yann Martel.

This event marked the first public speaking or academic competition for many of the ACS participants. Coaches Mr. Scott Bleiweis and Mr. Adam Saligman are very proud of all students who participated in the World Scholars Cup. They emphasize how these students showed great courage in volunteering for, and completing, this challenging yet rewarding experience.

Students competed in teams of two or three, and received scores based on individual and team performance. The competition featured 2 divisions based on age: 14 years old and younger, and 15 years old and older. Students were evaluated only in relation to those within their division.

ACS entered one team in the junior division: Lora Sergeeva, Marina Moravenova, and Ralitza Goranova of grade 8.

ACS had six teams in the senior division.

In addition to winning a multitude of medals for individual achievement, five teams from ACS finished within the top 10 for total team score in the senior division. As a result, these teams qualified to take part in the World Scholars Cup World Finals in Kuala Lampur, Malaysia in June 2015:

- Ioana Valova (grade 9), Ivailo Nakov (grade 9), Yordan Georgiev (grade 8): 10^th place
- Mia Kounova (grade 9), Momchil Milanov (grade 9), Manuela Uzunova (grade 9): 9^th place
- Mazen Meziad (grade 10), Joanna Dimitrova (grade 10), Nikola Michaylov (grade 10): 8^th place
- Kosara Tsoneva (grade 10), Teodora Tyankova (grade 10), Iva Totomanova (grade 10): 5^th place
- Kamen Velichkov (grade 11), Simeon Mihaylov (grade 11), Anthony Kirilov (grade 11): 3^rd place

ACS wishes to congratulate all of its student participants on a job well done!