Easy as pi - WHS students top Mathletics competition
Teachers and students who were part of the Montana Mathletics competition last month were recognized by the Whitefish School Board April 10.
Whitefish Mathletes were in prime shape last month, with a number of strong performances adding up to an overall championships at the Montana Mathletics competition.
High school students recently participated in the Mathletics competition at Flathead Valley Community College, competing against students from public, private and homeschools across northwest Montana.
In total, Whitefish fared well among the 371 total students at the competition and won the overall high school competition.
Two students took home overall top scores for their grade ranges. Jessica Henson took the top score among sophomore students in the 10th-grade, and Annie Sullivan received the top score for both 11th-grade and combined 11th- and 12th-grade students.
Jasmine Reese was also the female scholarship recipient and took home $200.
The competitions consisted of five total tests, four taken individually and one taken as a team.
Whitefish’s Denominators received the top team score for ninth- and 10th-grade. The team includes Andrew Brozek, Braden Heimbigner, Jessica Henson, Allison Miller and Danika Tintzman.
As part of team Razee, Zachary Ade, Emily Gunlikson, Ethan Mercer, Annie Sullivan and Regan Tintzman tied for first place in the 11th- and 12th-grade category.
High school math and science teacher Damian Estrada said the Mathletics competitions were common in past decades but fell out of fashion until a few years ago.
When he heard about it, he said he had a hard time thinking they could fill out a team.
“I have to tell you, the first thing I thought was ‘Who’s going to want to go to a math competition?’” he told the Whitefish School Board during their April 10 meeting.
“Every year, we get at least 25 students or more to go. I have to really give kudos to these students because not only do they have a passion for math and for academics, but they also have a passion to just learn and compete, which takes another extra level of initiative and desire.”
Estrada hinted at a future need for a new trophy case to house the volume of plaques being collected by Whitefish Mathletes each year.
Their success, he said, is a testament to the work done by the math and science teachers in the school district.
“I’m really proud of our math department because they rock and they do a really good job,” he said.