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Math Olympiad students wrap up year, receive awards

June 14, 2011

Several students from Pinewood Intermediate and Draper Middle School were among nearly 150,000 students worldwide to participate in the Math Olympiad program this year.

The students participated in a series of five monthly contests of five problems each, from November to March, and weekly practice sessions under the supervision and coaching of math administrator Heidi Bromley and Pinewood fifth-grade teacher Susan Nelson. Through the program students solve unusual and difficult problems and learn to think creatively.

A recognition event was held on Monday, May 23 in honor of all Mohonasen Math Olympiad students, as well as the 6th, 7th and 8th graders who participated in Math Counts. While all participants are to be commended, a few stood out on each team.

• The gold pin is awarded to those in the top two percent internationally. Sixth-grader Sam Ingersoll was in this extraordinary group.

• The silver pin is awarded to those in the 90th to 97th percentiles, including the following students: Sixth grader Emily Campbell; Fifth grader Nathaniel Finke, and Nathan Mostoller from the 4th grade team.

The embroidered felt patch is awarded to those in the top 50 percent of all the participants, including the following students:

• Sixth graders Saeeda Abdul-Aziz, Joey Colon, Anthony Friello, Caitlin Hilder, Rachel Treers and Nick Woodward

• Fifth graders Jessica Dynysiuk, Noelle Lavasseur, Brian Lineback, Jourdyn Nicholson, Elizabeth Ross, and Brendon Seney

• Fourth graders Brendan Dunleavy, Jacob Mallia, Felip Marvin Smith, Rebecca Tegiacchi and Mark Yetto

Each year, the Math Olympiad serves more than 100,000 students on nearly 5,000 teams nationally, and about 50,000 students and 2,000 teams in more than 30 other countries. Since 1979, it has provided challenging, thought-provoking problems that stretch the abilities of students in grades four to eight, strengthening their foundation for both assessment tests and more advanced studies.

Bromley has served as the coach of Mohonasen’s Math Olympiad for the last several years. Nelson coached for the first time this year and will take over both fourth and fifth-grade teams next year. Both coaches say they enjoy the diversity and strength of the mathematical ability of all these students.

See photo gallery of the event below.