Students Solve For High Scores In National Math Challenge At Hommocks

LARCHMONT-MAMARONECK, NY — The Advanced National Math Challenge came to Hommocks Middle Middle School and students showed their work ethic and took names.

The STEM Alliance collaborated with the Mamaroneck School District to bring the national Advanced Math Challenge-8 (AMC-8) competition to thirty-eight students, including one elementary school student, at Hommocks Middle School. AMC-8 is a highly rigorous nationwide mathematics competition for students 14-and-a-half years old or younger. The test focuses on advanced high school material tested through 25 multiple choice questions and must be completed in a 40 minutes.

The test is designed to give young students an opportunity to push themselves in analytical thinking, problem solving skills and mathematics. The exceptional students from the Mamaroneck Union Free School District not only pushed themselves and each other, but excelled.

The "challenge by choice" wasn't easy, but the achievement will pay off for a lifetime. To prepare for the test, many of the students participated in a 10-week AMC-8 Math Club "bootcamp" led by STEM Alliance Educator Arthur Washington.

"Taking this test is not just about solving problems," STEM Alliance Chief Programs Officer Walter Gabino Rendon said. "It's about embracing the joy of intellectual exploration and pushing the boundaries of their mathematical prowess."

After month of work, the results are in, and it appears the effort paid off handsomely — the Hommocks students excelled in their results.

A score of 11 points or higher ranks a student in the top 25 percent of participants in the country. This year, the Mamaroneck School District had six students who scored 11 or higher.

The highest scorers were first place finisher Joshua Koenigsberb (Grade 8) with 18 points, followed by second place Zack Gourevitch (Grade 6), Leo White (Grade 8) with 17 points, and in third place, Talia Grill (Grade 8), Gabriel Wertkin (Grade 6), and Felix Zebic (Grade 5) with 16 points each. Felix’s results were particularly impressive as he stepped up to this challenge as a 5th grader at Murray Avenue School.

"Diving into this rigorous competition willingly speaks volumes about each student’s enthusiasm for learning and their commitment to excellence," STEM Alliance President Meg Käufer said of the impressive results. "They're really testing their potential and setting the stage for a future where their interest in math knows no bounds."

About The STEM Alliance

The STEM Alliance is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization creating a network of STEM learning opportunities. With STEM jobs (in science, technology, engineering and math) expanding at an accelerated pace, there is high demand for skilled graduates. The STEM Alliance is growing the next generation of STEM leaders by creating a community where all are empowered to embrace STEM as a means of solving problems and fostering innovation.