Math whizzes from across the division descended on Benton Middle School recently to compete in this year’s Math Quest event, the division’s annual culminating mathematical competition for middle school students. Math Quest teams include students chosen from all the division’s middle schools, Pennington and Porter Traditional Schools, and The Nokesville School. Each team includes three to four students grouped by grade and academic level. Purple level teams include students in Algebra I or above; blue level teams include students enrolled in Math 7 Extended or Math 8/Pre-Algebra; and green level teams comprise students enrolled in Math 6, Math 6 Extended, or Math 7.
In all, 64 students participated in Math Quest 2023, competing as a team and independently to solve challenging math problems. The event tests students as they solve algebraic, geometric, statistical, and probability questions. In addition, Math Quest encompasses critical thinking, creativity, communication, and collaboration.
As a team, students rotate through two stations based on the different strands of mathematics, answering problems from geometric reasoning, probability and statistics, and algebra and number sense, given to both teams and individuals. A special Team Challenge problem gives the teams a chance to demonstrate their math reasoning and communication skills as they work together to solve a challenging task.
"The whole experience was great,” said a student participant. “I enjoyed having a chance to compete with other kids who have the same interests as me, and it also gave me a sense of accomplishment."
The following individual and team winners were announced at the conclusion of the 2023 Math Quest. Three of the 17 teams also received special recognition for exhibiting excellent teamwork.
Individual Awards
Purple level:
- First place: David Wu, Gainesville Middle School
- Second place: Aditi Puri, Parkside Middle School
- Third place: Jarius Appiah, Hampton Middle School
Blue level:
- First place: Philip Butler, Pennington Traditional School
- Second place: Thomas Keapproth, The Nokesville School
- Third place: Sahira KC, Pennington Traditional School
Green level:
- First place: Arhaan Gautam, Pennington Traditional School
- Second place: Eric Benavides, Parkside Middle School
- Third place: Brody Cameron, The Nokesville School
Team Awards
Purple Team:
First place team members:
- Jarius Appiah, Hampton Middle School
- Arielle Hicks, Porter Traditional School
- David Wu, Gainesville Middle School
Second place team members:
- Ryan McMichael, Saunders Middle School
- Ryan Pao, The Nokesville School
- Banahene Sakyi, Benton Middle School
- Eric Teng, Parkside Middle School
Third place team members:
- Danielle Gohel, Rippon Middle School
- Genevieve Ngoufan, Gainesville Middle School
- Aditi Puri, Parkside Middle School
- Zarah Taslim, Beville Middle School
Blue Team:
First place team members:
- Thomas Keapproth, The Nokesville School
- Edna Mekonnen, Lake Ridge Middle School
- Rachael Zachariah, Parkside Middle School
Second place team members:
- Audrey Adjei-Sarfoh, Rippon Middle School
- Gabrielle Clemetson, Parkside Middle School
- Mehtab Dhanoa, Gainesville Middle School
- Sahar (Bebi) Rahellah, Saunders Middle School
Third place team members:
- Philip Butler, Pennington Traditional School
- Ephratah Ngusse, Porter Traditional School
- Alicia Singh, Benton Middle School
Green Team:
First place team members:
- Haariz Ahmad, Gainesville Middle School
- Alexis Breitmaier, Saunders Middle School
- Luke Kown, Gainesville Middle School
Second place team members:
- Ahmad Habib, Hampton Middle School
- Enzo Lamberty, Potomac Middle School
- Lorenzo Vega, Lake Ridge Middle School
Third place team members:
- Tayba Ahmed, The Nokesville School
- Arhaan Gautam, Pennington Traditional School
- Hannah Greenley, Lake Ridge Middle School
- Landyn Leonhardt, Benton Middle School
Teamwork Awards
Purple Team:
- Shoumik Das, Hampton Middle School
- Matthew Johnson, Benton Middle School
- Brandon Mollinedo, Pennington Traditional School
Blue Team:
- Adam Elkhammar, Beville Middle School
- Sahira KC, Pennington Traditional School
- Roha Seyoum, Lake Ridge Middle School
Green Team:
- Emmanuel Acquaah, Porter Traditional School
- Jacob Downey, Beville Middle School
- Melina Gates, Benton Middle School
- Jotham Johnson, Saunders Middle School