Young mathematicians earn awards

Nipissing University hosted an awards ceremony on June 6 for local students in grade 2 – 8 who achieved high grades in the 2017 Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest. The Math Kangaroo is an international competition run simultaneously in more than 70 countries all over the world. It dates back to 1980s.

This year’s contest was held at Nipissing University in late March. A total of 13 students participated and five earned awards. The five award winners are: Anne Akomah, from St. Luke School, earned Regional First Place in grade 2, Alexander Plamondon, from Alliance French Immersion Public School, earned Regional First Place in grade 3, Michael John Miller, from Sunset Park School earned Regional First Place in grade 5, Quilquil Atari, from Algonquin Secondary School, earned Regional First Place in grade 8, and Rithika Silva, from West Ferris Secondary School, earned Regional Second Place in grade 8.

North Bay students have traditionally scored well and earned awards in Math Kangaroo every year since 2012. This is the fifth consecutive award that Atari has earned, including a National Top 10 percent placement in 2013. It is the second year that Plamondon and Miller have earned awards.

The students who participated are all regular participants in the Math Circles group, organized by Nipissing’s department of computer science and mathematics.

The contest involves a multiple choice test consisting of 18 questions (grade 1-2), 24 questions (grade 3-4) or 30 questions (grade 5-12). Questions are selected internationally every year. After the international selection is done, every country can replace up to six questions in each grade with questions that reflect the national curriculum.

Dr. Tzvetalin Vassilev, associate professor and Chair of Nipissing’s computer science and mathematics department, has been on the selection committee for the grade 9-12 questions since 2013.