Math was cool – at least for a few hours during the MATHCOUNTS Lehigh Valley Regional Competition held at Lower Macungie MS Feb. 9.

The Saturday event had a bunch of smart kids out of bed and away from their TVs and social media while being excited about math.

“According to Kevin Campbell of Lehigh Valley Chapter Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers – the sponsor of the event, “Math is the foundation to being a good engineer –” therefore, he continued, “since engineers make all the good things that make life easier, “all engineers go to heaven.”

By extension, students should study their math if they want to go to heaven.

Springhouse MS math kids took top honors for their team. Springhouse’s 8th grader Brandon Cai, took top individual honors. Apparently, math smarts run in Cai’s family. According to Francee Fuller with Lehigh Valley Chapter Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, “His brother Victor won the event last year.”

She said Springhouse MS also took top overall honors last year. Teacher Kevin Hallman coached the team.

Orefield MS math students took a special prize as being the most improved from last year. Teacher Craig Waters was their coach.

Campbell, the competition coordinator, welcomed the participants on behalf of the Lehigh Valley Chapter Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers. Saturday’s event was the 35th annual competition.

“MATHCOUNTS is a national math coaching and competition program for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade student that promotes interest and ability in math by making math excellence as challenging, exciting and prestigious as achievement in sports MATHCOUNTS has reached more than 4 million students in its thirty-year history. It works because it is a partnership of the education, business and technological communities.”

The winning team will advance to the state-level competition in Harrisburg March 15-16. The four highest ranking individuals from the Count Down round and the two highest-ranking individuals who were not on the winning team will also compete in Harrisburg.

The top students from Pennsylvania will compete for national honors May 11-14 in Orlando.

……………………………Side Bar…………………

Top Six Teams

1. Springhouse MS, coached by Kevin Hallman

2. Southern Lehigh MS, coached by Ronnette Mays

3. Easton MS, coached by Eric and Alex Adams

4. Moravian Academy, coached by Alison Overdorf and Andriana Turcotte

5. Eyer MS, coached by Julie Hummell

6. Orefield Middle School, coached by Craig Waters

Top 10 Mathletes

1. Brandon Cai, 6th grade, Springhouse MS – also top 6th grader

2. Eric Zhang, 8th grade, Springhouse MS

3. Adam Plotka, 8th grade, Eyer MS

4. Taha Mirrani, 8th grade, Orefield MS

5. Dan Martinez, 8th grade, Pocono Mountain

6. Aditya Singhvi, 8th grade, Orefield MS

7. Sophie Wen, 8th grade, Southern Lehigh-also top female Mathlete

8. Armaan Makwana, 8th grade, Easton Area MS

9. Alaina Patel, 8th grade, Southern Lehigh School District-also second highest scoring female

10. Eric Welp, 8th grade, Eyer MS

Other Awards

Emma Li, 8th grade, third highest scoring female-8th grade, Easton Area MS

Jeffrey Holzbaur-highest scoring 7th grade, Saucon Valley MS

Orefield Middle School – most improved team- coached by Craig Waters

St Jane Frances de Chantel School (Easton)- best new team-coached by Margie DiLollo

Our Lady of Perpetual Help (Bethlehem) – Honorable Mention- coached by Pat Sabino

Swiftwater Intermediate School-Special Award (nine female competitors; I male)- coached by Joy Carsia and Jeff Sottolano

Award presenter, on behalf of the LV PA Society of Professional Engineers, was Al Dezubay, Vice-President.