THIRD CONSECUTIVE CROWN FOR SALTSBURG PREP SCHOOL
Burrell and Kiski Area Tie for Second
The Kiski School, a college preparatory boarding school in Saltsburg, Pa., captured its third consecutive championship of the StrongLand Chamber of Commerce Math League competition Jan. 12 at Penn State New Kensington.
Kiski School compiled 95 points to pull away from Burrell High School and Kiski Area High School who tied for runner-up honors with 83 points each. The two-day competition, spread out over the fall and spring semesters, features more than 100 students from 8 area high schools answering mathematical questions.
Sponsored by the StrongLand Chamber of Commerce's Educational Committee, the annual competition brings together students from Burrell, Ford City, Freeport, Kiski Area, Kiski School, Kittanning, Leechburg and Valley high schools and gives them the chance to go head-to-head with each other in an academic competition. Each school has three teams of five students, competing against all the other teams in each round. Students answer two sets of eight questions. They are allowed 25 minutes to answer each set. The questions in algebra, geometry and other areas of mathematics are developed by David Wells, associate professor of mathematics at Penn State New Kensington.
At the end of the first round, the leaderboard was crowded as a mere six points separated the first- and third-place teams. Kiski School topped the charts with 41 points followed closely by Kiski Area with 36 points, and Burrell at 35 points.
"The competition provides students with a positive mathematical experience," said Wells, author of two books on mathematics contests. "It exposes them to some challenging problems not normally encountered in the classroom and gives them an opportunity to interact with other students who enjoy mathematics."
Team trophies went to the top three schools and MVP awards were given to the top individual of each team. Individually, Kelly Kuzemchak, a senior at Kiski Area, defended her medalist title with 26 points.
For additional information, contact Wells at 724-334-6749 or dmw6@psu.edu.