The hours campus students spent memorizing formulas and solving equations in the classroom came to fruition as the high school earned second place in the Small School Division at Math Field Day, April 19. The junior high also placed first in the Small School Division and won first place overall, scoring higher than any other middle school at the event.
Math Field Day, held annually at California State University, Fresno, invites students from schools around the Valley to compete in three math-related events. The campus has attended the event for several years, and last year the high school tied for first in the Small School Division.
Mike Fenton, head of the campus math department, said he brought about 81 students to the event this year, earning an award for the greatest student attendance of any school. A total of 400 students attended Math Field Day, according to Fenton.
“[At Math Field Day], students are challenged in a way they haven’t been before,” Fenton said. “It’s an opportunity for them to be recognized for their thinking ability. It’s also good for the school to be out there for the community to recognize that we might have a solid math department.”
In addition to the school’s awards, some campus students were recognized in their individual events. Senior Mitchell Callisch won first place and junior Alyssa Powell placed second in the Game Tournament, the most popular event for many schools.
“Going to Math Field Day isn’t something you get to do all the time, but to go there and win was pretty awesome,” Callisch, who has competed in the tournament for three years, said. “I didn’t really expect to win, so it was a nice surprise when I did.”
The eighth grade students in the junior high students also excelled in the Game Tournament, as Allie Frea took first place, Kim Fisher won second and Steven Callisch placed third in a tie.
“I thought they [campus students] did a great job, especially in the Game Tournament,” Fenton said. “I even heard from our students that their opponents were visibly disappointed to find that they were up against an FC student in the Game Tournament.”
In addition, eighth graders Stuart Bandy and Daniel Moore won first place in Leap Frog, a two-person test consisting of 20 questions and covering material that is “harder than anything seen in regular class throughout the year,” Fenton said.
Students also participated in Mad Hatter, an 80-question speed test, but no one placed at the top, according to Fenton.
All individual winners at Math Field Day received various prizes, including a trophy, a certificate, a T-shirt and a Texas Instruments graphing calculator. As an adviser, Fenton collected two mugs, two certificates and two $25 Borders gift cards.
The team prizes included trophies, certificates, Zome tool kits and puzzle books.
For past coverage of Math Field Day, visit the April 24, 2007 article, Campus wins multiple math awards.
