BOONE, N.C.—Awards for individuals and top schools were earned during regional qualifying for the NCCTM State Mathematics Contest held at Appalachian State University March 8. A total of 306 area students took part in the competitions, which included Level 1, equivalent to Algebra 1 course study, and Comprehensive, equivalent to the top high school math level. Winners qualified to compete at the state level competition.

The North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCCTM) sponsors the statewide competition. According to the organization’s web site, the group brings together professionals responsible for teaching math in North Carolina from kindergarten through graduate school.

At the competition held at Appalachian, Atkins Academic & Technology High School had the top team score on the Comprehensive level for 1A/2A high schools. Forsyth Country Day had the highest team score for larger high schools classified 3A/4A. Comprehensive qualifiers are eligible to compete in the state competition at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham on April 27.

Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy had the top team in the Level 1 competition, followed by Lake Norman Charter School in second place. Twenty-three schools competed in Level 1. Qualifiers in Level 1 will be eligible for another round of competition at either UNC Asheville or UNC Greensboro, depending on their NCCTM region, on May 4. Winners at these locations will be eligible to compete at the state finals.

Individual school winners in the Comprehensive competition are:

• Sam Henson, Ashe County High School
• Benjamin Armentrout, Atkins Academic & Technology High School
• Jason Rhodes, Avery County High School
• Junye Ou, Burns High School
• Daniel Cheng, East Chapel Hill High School
• Kelly Chen, Forsyth Country Day
• Nithya Sampath, Lake Norman Charter School
• Joseph Campbell, Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
• Jack Rigsbee Robert L. Patton High School
• Matthew Kahl, Providence Day
• Aidan Edmondson, South Caldwell High School

Comprehensive level winners who qualified to compete at the state competition are:

• Joseph Campbell, Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (perfect score)
• Daniel Cheng, East Chapel Hill High School
• Kelly Chen, Forsyth Country Day
• Benjamin Armentrout, Atkins Academic & Technology High School
• Ali Mirzazadeh, Atkins Academic & Technology High School
• Jason Rhodes, Avery High School
• Jack Rigsbee, Robert L. Patton High School
• Will Gessner, Robert L. Patton High School

Awards for the Comprehensive contest were as follows:

• First place: $50 cash, medal and certificate
• Second place: $30 cash, medal and certificate
• Third place: $20 cash, medal and certificate
• Fourth through eighth places: medals and certificates
• School’s top finisher: certificate
• Top school in 3A/4A and 1A/2A: plaques

Level 1 winners from each individual school were:

• Chelsea D’Abrio, J. M. Alexander IB Middle School
• Cheyenne Hoyle, Burns High School
• Sydney Tuthill, East Iredell Middle School
• Kennedy Wise, William Ellis Middle School
• Joshua Howard, Forsyth Country Day School
• Kenly Yount, Gamewell Middle School
• Henry Coatney, Grace Academy
• Helen Campbell, Grandview Middle School
• Ben Dugger, Granite Falls Middle School
• Apurba Paudel, Hardin Park School
• Allison Stafford, Harris Middle School
• Mason McElroy, Lake Norman Charter School
• Warner Laxton, Maiden Middle School
• Eric Yule, Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
• Caroline Miller, Mill Creek Middle School
• Carson Pierce, North Iredell Middle School
• Ava Geideman, Northview Middle School
• Kevin Sangmuah, Providence Day
• Kaitlyn Phillips, Riverbend Middle School
• Michael Sykes, Statesville Middle School
• Ashley Waugh, West Iredell Middle School
• Cyrus Black, West McDowell Middle School

Level 1 top 20 qualifiers were:

• Eric Yule, Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (perfect score)
• Naveen Ramasamy, Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy (perfect score)
• Mason McElroy, Lake Norman Charter School
• Raghav Sriram, Lake Norman Charter School
• Joshua Howard, Forsyth Country Day
• Catherine Pan, Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy
• Jeeya Shah, Lake Norman Charter School
• Cyrus Black, West McDowell Middle School
• Kevin Sangmuah, Providence Day
• Sophie Scherer, Forsyth Country Day
• Henry Coatney, Grace Academy
• Ben Dugger, Granite Falls Middle School
• Griffin Kissam, Providence Day
• Declan Peters, Providence Day
• Saanvi Pawa, Forsyth Country Day
• Braden Bole, Lake Norman Charter
• Lauren Chi, Lake Norman Charter
• Jake Koonin, Forsyth Country Day
• Apurba Paudel, Hardin Park
• Sawyer Rideout, Granite Falls Middle

Awards for the Level 1 contest were as follows:

• First place: $30 cash, medal and certificate
• Second place: $20 cash, medal and certificate
• Third place: $10 cash, medal and certificate
• Fourth through 20th place: medals and certificates
• School’s top finisher: certificate
• Top school: plaque

Appalachian has a long tradition of being involved with NCCTM competitions. According to Lori Tyler, director of Appalachian’s Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics program and co-coordinator of Appalachian’s NCCTM Mathematics Contest, the university has participated in the state math contest since it began in 1979.

Tyler, who is presently pursuing her doctorate in educational leadership at Appalachian, spoke about the enthusiasm and hard work that participation in the contest brings out in students. “Students who attend Appalachian’s Mathematics Contest are excited to visit a university campus, and teachers say their students are motivated to work harder to gain the opportunity to participate,” Tyler said. “The contest provides students an environment to enjoy doing mathematics.”

Tyler pointed out that the math contest at Appalachian could not happen without the generous support of the following organizations and businesses: Department of Mathematical Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Reich College of Education, and the Math and Science Education Center. Donations to the event were also provided by the University Bookstore, Advising and Orientation, Stick Boy Bread Company, Appalachia Cookie Company and Insomnia Cookies.

Next year, Appalachian will host the NCCTM State Mathematics Contest on March 20, 2018.

About the Department of Mathematical Sciences

The Department of Mathematical Sciences offers undergraduate degrees in actuarial science and mathematics, with concentrations in business, computation, life sciences, physical sciences, secondary teaching and statistics, plus a general, self-designed concentration. The department also offers the Master of Arts in mathematics with concentrations in college teaching and secondary teaching.

About the Math and Science Education Center

Since 1985, the Appalachian State University Math and Science Education Center has offered special workshops, summer institutes, graduate courses and other instructional programs aimed at helping update and recertify teachers in Northwest North Carolina. The center’s goals are to increase the quality and quantity of mathematics and science teachers in North Carolina public schools; strengthen instruction in mathematics and science in grades K-12; sponsor research and development in mathematics and science education; and increase the use of educational technology in schools.

About Appalachian State University

As a premier public institution, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives. App State is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System, with a national reputation for innovative teaching and opening access to a high-quality, affordable education for all. The university enrolls more than 21,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and 80 graduate majors at its Boone and Hickory campuses and through App State Online. Learn more at https://www.appstate.edu.

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