MAR LIN — More than 100 students showed off their math skills Tuesday during the third annual 24 Challenge Tournament at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29.
The nine finalists will go on to compete in the state tournament June 14 in the Keystone Building Atrium, Harrisburg. The winners of each of the three age groups received trophies Tuesday.
The object of the challenge is to make 24 from the four numbers on the game card using addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. Each number can only be used once. As the competition continued, more cards were introduced.
All 12 of the public school districts in Schuylkill County were invited to the event. Mahanoy Area was the only school unable to make Tuesday’s competition. Each district had a group of students, but they competed individually in three divisions: fourth and fifth grade, sixth grade, and seventh and eighth grade.
A total of 107 students participated, Vince Hoover, event coordinator and mathematics supervisor at IU 29, said.
“They get to show off their mathematical fluency, and it’s an opportunity to just have a fun competition with other school districts,” Hoover said.
The winners of the three divisions Tuesday were Madison Fickinger, Williams Valley, fourth and fifth grade; Kaleb Maksimik, Shenandoah Valley, sixth grade; and Daniella Walker, Pottsville Area, seventh and eighth grade.
The other finalists included Hunter Ruch and Declan Coleman, both of Tamaqua Area, fourth and fifth grade; Kendall Earle, Saint Clair Area, and Jasmyn Guldin, Pottsville Area, sixth grade; and Brennan Stanton, Saint Clair Area, and Harry Swinehart, Tamaqua Area, seventh and eighth grade.
All the finalists received medals.
Some of the districts had their own tournaments for students to qualify for the competition. Other students, like those at North Schuylkill, were nominated by their teachers and practiced a few days during the week.
“They have to learn to recognize patterns on the cards,” Renata Blozousky, a math teacher at North Schuylkill High School, said. “It is good practice and requires quick thinking. Mental math is great. It’s a lot of fun and there is a lot of strategy involved. Each student had their own strategy.”
Although there was no winner from North Schuylkill on Tuesday, Kaitlyn Schuyler and Nick Perneta, both eighth-graders, said they were going to help prepare their younger classmates to win next year.
“It’s a nice competition and gives you something to strive for,” Schuyler said.
They also said they have become friends after practicing every Monday and Friday together after school.
“It has also brought us closer as teammates,” Perneta said.
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