The school districts MATHCOUNTS champions along with the six top individual winners from each district will compete in the Virgin Islands State competition of the national MATHCOUNTS program beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, March 29, at St. Croix Country Day Pavilion, according to a press release from St. Croix Math Coordinator Juanita Boneque.
The Antilles School team is the math competition champion in the St. Thomas-St. John district. Team members are Nicholas Midler, Jonathan Qualls, Pooja Chainani and Simran Mirchandani — all 7th graders. The team is coached by Michele Garcia.
Individual competitors from St. Thomas-St. John are Sidarth Parwani, Marus Norkaitis and Naren Advani 8th graders at All Saints Cathedral; Mahav Thadani, an Antilles School 6th grader; Rysa Bryan, a 6th grader at Ulla F. Muller Elementary, and Bertha C. Boschulte Middle School 8th grader Muhammed Ali.
Country Day School, St. Croix’s top team is coached by Rachel Newman. Team members are 8th graders Julian DiPersio, Ethan Dean, Kalahari Bryan, and 7th grader Sierra Van Allen.
St. Croix individual competitors are Taahira Guzman, 8th grader at Good Hope; Hannah Elser, 8th grade, Manor; Hazel Acosta and Andrew Peacock 8th graders at Country Day; and 8th grader Donte Harris and 7th grader Ameera Mustafa of Elena Christian Junior High.
Students will compete individually and as teams in written and fast-paced oral matches. Subjects include algebra, probability, statistics and geometry. The winners will advance to the 2012 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Orlando, Florida, May 11.
MATHCOUNTS is a national program designed to improve math skills among U.S. students. The program focuses on middle school students, who are at a crucial stage in developing and sustaining math interest and ability. Students who do not begin developing strong problem-solving, logical thinking and analytical abilities in middle school will face an uphill battle later in life if they wish to pursue a medical, scientific, mathematical engineering or technical career.
Local sponsors of the competition are St. Croix Mid-Isle Rotary Club, St. Thomas Rotary Club I and II and the Department of Education.
For more information on MATHCOUNTS, contact Juanita Boneque at 778-1600, ext. 7054 or browse the Internet at www.mathcounts.org
