Michigan MATHCOUNTS team places at National Competition
The Michigan MATHCOUNTS Team placed 5th in the 2017 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition held May 14th and 15th at the Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The team is comprised of the top four finishers in the Michigan Competition: Reagan Choi, Alex Xu, Varun Rajesh, all from Boulan Park Middle School in Troy, and Jeffrey Zhang, from Hillside Middle School in Northville. The Team was coached by Mark Martin, a teacher at Boulan Park Middle School.
The team was among 224 competitors from all 50 states, plus U.S. territories and schools that serve the U.S. State and Defense departments who traveled to Orlando after earning a spot in the national competition. More than 100,000 students participated in the local and state competitions that led to this weekend’s event. This year’s competition was the 34th in the MATHCOUNTS Foundation’s history.
Reagan Choi, a 7th grader, and Alex Xu, an 8th grader placed 5th and 6th respectively in the written competition. Both were quarterfinalists in the Countdown Round, during which the 12 Mathletes® with the highest written test scores competed in head-to-head matchups for the title of 2017 National Champion. This was Alex’s second consecutive appearance in the Countdown Round in three years attending the National Competition. This is Reagan’s second year representing Michigan. Mark Martin has been the coach for the Michigan Team for the past five years.
This is the ninth year that Raytheon Company has served as title sponsor of the MATHCOUNTS National Competition as part of its global commitment to science, technology, engineering and math education.
“These Mathlete competitors demonstrated a mastery and enthusiasm for the subject that is both impressive and inspiring,” said Thomas A. Kennedy, Raytheon Chairman and CEO. “Their passion is infectious, and it gets you excited to think about the great breakthroughs they will someday achieve as the next generation of STEM innovators and professionals.”
Luke Robitaille, a home-schooled 13-year-old 7th grader from Euless, Texas is the 2017 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS® National Champion, and Texas captured the title of First Place Team in the team competition. “Every year these outstanding students show us how far hard work, perseverance and passion can take you,” said Lou DiGioia, executive director of MATHCOUNTS. “I congratulate Luke and can’t wait to see what he and the 223 other national competitors go on to accomplish in the future.”
Over 1,100 students state-wide compete in the 16 local chapter and state competitions sponsored by the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers.
This is the ninth year that Raytheon Company has served as title sponsor of the MATHCOUNTS National Competition as part of its global commitment to science, technology, engineering and math education.
“These Mathlete competitors demonstrated a mastery and enthusiasm for the subject that is both impressive and inspiring,” said Thomas A. Kennedy, Raytheon Chairman and CEO. “Their passion is infectious, and it gets you excited to think about the great breakthroughs they will someday achieve as the next generation of STEM innovators and professionals.”
Luke Robitaille, a home-schooled 13-year-old 7th grader from Euless, Texas is the 2017 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS® National Champion, and Texas captured the title of First Place Team in the team competition. “Every year these outstanding students show us how far hard work, perseverance and passion can take you,” said Lou DiGioia, executive director of MATHCOUNTS. “I congratulate Luke and can’t wait to see what he and the 223 other national competitors go on to accomplish in the future.”
Over 1,100 students state-wide compete in the 16 local chapter and state competitions sponsored by the Michigan Society of Professional Engineers.