Area students compete in MathCOUNTS competition
More than 50 middle school students from around the region took to the stage recently to show off their skills in math.
The 27th annual MATHCOUNTS competition, held at the Maggie Hardy Magerko Auditorium in the community center at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, included students from Margaret Bell Miller Elementary School in Waynesburg, as well as A.J. McMullen, Lafayette and Ben Franklin schools, all in the Uniontown Area School District; and Frazier Middle School in Perryopolis.
Professor Kevin Maxwell, a math instructor at Penn State Fayette, spearheaded this year’s competition held earlier this month.
“The students really seem to enjoy a day where they get to put math on stage,” he said.
Members of local Business and Professional Women’s clubs served as the scorers.
“We are so happy to have the continuing support of the BPW clubs in the area,” said Maxwell.
Students begin with a sprint round with qualifiers going to the target round, team round and then a final countdown round.
The top team this year was from A.J. McMullen coached by Donald Bell and Joe Foster. Members of the team included Herschel Allen, Nicholas Llanza, Nathan Guerriere and Ally Citro. Each student from the winning team received a savings bond presented by the local BPW chapters.
Second place team honors went to Margaret Bell Miller coached by Rick Layton and Lisa Durbin.
Susan Szelc was the coach for Frazier students. Ben Franklin students were coached by Glenda Hutchinson and Lafayette students were coached by Maegan Kovach.
In the individual scoring, first place went to Hannah Gibbons of Margaret Bell Miller. As the top student at the end of the countdown round, Gibbons earned a $1,000 scholarship to Penn State Fayette. Jack Fudala of Margaret Bell Miller finished in second place. Tyler Christy, also of Margaret Bell Miller, took home third place honors while Nathan Guerriere from A.J. McMullen placed fourth. Maxwell said several of the individual winners also received savings bond and, along with the winning team, will represent Fayette and Greene counties at the state MathCOUNTS competition scheduled for March in Harrisburg.