2nd Math Competition Encourages ‘Mathletes’

Community Contributed 

By Erik Svetin, MHS Student and Mathlete

Kualapu`u School winners: Kamalu Ka`awa Richardson, Leelan Corpuz, Aaliyah Cariaga, Kawena Davis, Sue Forbes-Kikukawa, Erik Svetin, Kim Link.

A year ago, I started a new annual math competition for Molokai elementary school students. I wanted to share my love and enthusiasm of mathematics with other younger students on island. My goal was to encourage other students to pursue an interest in math and to help them gain confidence with the skills needed to be successful mathematicians at Molokai High School and Molokai Middle School.

I just completed organizing and proctoring the entire competition on May 27. More than 90 students in the fifth and sixth grades from Kaunakakai, Kilohana, Kualapu`u and Maunaloa schools participated in Phase I of the competition. Phase II was a second exam which was administered to the top three “mathletes” at each elementary school.

Congratulations to Bailey Busto-Beaudet from Kilohana School for placing first overall on Molokai out of over 90 students. Her principal is Richard Stevens. Bailey’s teacher is Lisa Palmer.

Second place overall for Molokai went to Aaliyah Cariaga from Kualapu`u School. Her principal is Lydia Trinidad. Her teachers are Amanda Adams and Kimberly Link. The math resource teacher is Sue Forbes-Kikukawa.

Third place overall for the island went to Owen Svetin from Kaunakakai Elementary School. His principal is Janice Espiritu. His teacher is Andrea Yuen.

I would like to thank Jonathan Smith, my AP calculus teacher at Molokai High School, for his guidance of this community competition for the past two years. Thank you to Kamoi Snack-n-Go, Inc. for ice cream gift certificates for every participant. Finally, thank you to all of the principals, teachers, and families for supporting these “mathletes” and for encouraging the importance of everyday math.

The following are the final results of the top three Molokai Math Competition mathletes per school:

Kaunakakai Elementary:

1. Owen Svetin – 3^rd Overall Island
2. Paige Fukuoka
3. Teruko Asano

Kilohana Elementary:

1. Bailey Busto-Beaudet – 1^st Overall Island
2. Maya Lima
3. Brian Demello

Kualapuu Elementary:

1. Aaliyah Cariaga – 2^nd Overall Island`
2. Leelan Corpuz
3. Kawena Davis and Kamalu Ka`awa-Richardson – tie for third place for Kualapuu

Maunaloa Elementary:

1. Kahi Nuuanu
2. Divine Brown-Davis
3. Lii Lankford

I look forward to seeing more participants in the third annual Molokai Math Competition. If you would like more information, please email me at eriksvetin@yahoo.com.