May 4, 2000

EJH math students divide and conquer elite competitions

Students rank in state and national honor rolls

By Justin Trapp
Herald staff writer
       In Jan Palkowski's eighth-grade academically talented geometry class, the monotony of daily routine is occasionally muddied by an ungraded math competition.
      Sound like fun?
      Maybe not to everyone, but these competitions serve a practical purpose: they help kids prepare for higher math and competitions that give away larger awards, like scholarships.
      And that's not all.
      One of the competitions taken this year, the American Mathematics Competitions, was received especially well by the Traverse City East Junior High eighth-graders.
      Four students were named to the National Honor Roll, and eight more were named to the Michigan Honor Roll. To qualify for the National Honor Roll, students must receive 20 or higher on a 25 problem test, and 17 or higher to make the State Honor Roll.
      Students named to the National Honor Roll include Olivia Gillham, Garrett Kerndt, Shane Dilloway and Patrick Sullivan.
      Students named to the State Honor Roll include Chris Beckett, Corri Gillman, Austin Kerndt, Jacob Norton, Mattias Johnson, Kaylee McGreaham, Matthew Newman, and Rebecca Van Houwelingen.
      In Michigan, 13,888 students from 224 schools took the American Mathematics Competitions, which was given in November of 1999. Palkowski's class, consisting of 15 percent "National" and 46 percent "State" students, soared above the state average, where less than two percent of all students reached "National" status, and only six percent attained "State" status.
      Students were recognized with certificates, and though no prize money was involved, students seem to agree that these competitions can be a fun change of pace.
      "I think it's kind of fun every so often," said Garrett Kerndt, who scored a 21 in the competition. "It's something different we get to do."
      As for taking the competition, the old method of "do-what-you- know-first" still rings true to Olivia Gillham.
      "On any kind of timed test I do all the one that I can first," said Gillham, who, with a 22, received the highest mark in the class, "then I go back to the ones that are going to take a while to figure out."
      Palkowski said that though the competitions aren't graded, students are expected to participate in taking them during class time. According to Palkowski, it "pushes their math."