CNMI gears up for battle of math wizards

CNMI MATHCOUNTS is entering its sixth year of competing in the nationwide junior high school MATHCOUNTS program. This year the program hopes to include every eligible Junior High School in the CNMI. The schools who have expressed interest in participating this year include Calvary Christian Academy, Eskuelan San Francisco De Borja, Eucon International School, Grace Christian Academy, Hopwood Junior High, Marianas Baptist Academy, Mount Carmel School, Rota Junior High, Saipan Community School, Saipan International School, and Tinian Junior High. Over 200 students will participate in the program this year.

The MATHCOUNTS program is designed to stimulate and encourage academic excellence in mathematics among seventh and eighth grade students through coaching, competition and recognition program. After several months of training, each school will select as many as three teams to compete in the Chapter Competition which will be held on Feb. 26th. Winners from the Chapter Competition will advance to the State Championship to be held on March 25th. State winners earn a trip to the national competition in Washington, DC.

Across the mainland, MATHCOUNTS is a well known success story that is the result of dedicated volunteer efforts by teachers, engineers, accountants, students, and corporate sponsorships. The program involves teams from all 50 states, the CNMI, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, the State Department, and the Department of
Defense. Locally, the program provides coaching and educational materials free of charge to all the schools participating in the CNMI. It also pays for all the expenses of regional, state, and national competitions including meals, transportation, venue costs, and trophies. CNMI MATHCOUNTS is a private non-profit organization.