Photo by Aleen Kaltakdjian

Math Club Hosts Annual Tournament

More than 200 middle school students from seven area schools gathered on the St. Joseph’s Academy campus on February 5 for Mu Alpha Theta’s seventh annual Middle School Math Tournament. Participants enjoyed an evening of competition and fun hosted by members of SJA’s Mu Alpha Theta club.

“It was very rewarding to see them get excited about math.” Mathilde Silverberg '12

The evening’s activities included multiple-choice and free-response tests, which were written by Mu Alpha Theta officers, a pizza dinner, guessing games, door prizes and a relay race featuring balloons stuffed with math questions and an awards ceremony. Our Lady of Mercy took home the sweepstakes prize.

In addition to Our Lady of Mercy, participating schools were St. George, St. Aloysius, St. Jude, Sacred Heart, St. Jean Vianney and St. Thomas More.

“When Our Lady of Mercy won sweepstakes, the students from Mercy were so excited and all ran on stage to take pictures and receive the award,” said senior Aimee St. Cyr, Mu Alpha Theta president. “I enjoyed watching the students cherish and compete on the academic level.”

“Every member of the math club contributed in some capacity to the tournament,” said senior Hillary Johnson, club historian. “From blowing up balloons to stuffing envelopes and grading tests, the volunteers made the night possible for all the middle school students anxious to learn. The kids had so much fun during the balloon-pop relay and at the trophy presentation. It was great to see all of the hard work I had contributed the week before be worth the effort. I really enjoyed seeing the students have fun spending their Friday night at a math tournament. I was so proud of the Mu Alpha Theta club, the officers and the moderators. I would do it all over it again if I had the opportunity.” 

Senior Lucie Calderon, club secretary, said the annual tournament holds a special place in her heart. “I remember coming to this tournament as a 6th grader and how awesome it was to see that math could be fun, which is exactly the goal we kept in mind while putting together this tournament,” she said. “I truly believe in the importance of stimulating interest in math at a young age, and I think the kids really enjoyed the tournament.”

Junior Kendra Hinnenkamp credited the officers and members of the club for the tournament’s overwhelming success. “We worked together every day after school the week prior,” she said. “The most exciting part for me was the relay race because my team of four won in the fifth grade division, and I was really proud of them.”

Sophomore Mathilde Silverberg said the participants especially enjoyed the relay race. “They all got really excited when they got a problem right,” she said. “It was very rewarding to see them get excited about math.”

Junior Adele Wiggins agreed. “I loved being a part of the children’s excitement and time well spent competing in math activities,” she said. “It was great to see how enthusiastic each child was to be there and to watch as all of our planning and hard work brought smiles to their faces.”


Mindy Brodhead Averitt
Communications Director