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Winners of the New Hampshire State MATHCOUNTS competition held on March 11, 2023 at the NH Technical Institute (NHTI) in Concord, who will represent New Hampshire at the National competition in Orlando, FL in May. From left to right: Anirudh Pulugurtha (Academy for Science and Design), Ameya Kharade (Academy for Science and Design), Coach Karen Legault (Academy for Science and Design), Arjun Puninchittaya (Ross A. Lurgio Middle School), and Benton Zhang (Hollis Brookline Middle School).
MATHCOUNTS is a national mathematics competition to provide engaging math programs to 6th, 7th and 8th grade students of all ability levels to build confidence and improve attitudes towards math and problem solving. In New Hampshire, it is sponsored by the New Hampshire Society of Professional Engineers and the New Hampshire Teachers of Mathematics. National sponsors include BAE Systems, who is the lead sponsor for the northeast states, as well as other companies and agencies.
The state is divided into six regions. The students first compete at their local schools and then at the regional level in February. The three winning teams from each region, together with top-scoring individuals not represented on those teams, then compete at the state level in March to determine the four top individuals who will represent New Hampshire at the national competition in Orlando, FL in May.
This year, the State competition was held on March 11, 2023 at the NH Technical Institute (NHTI) in Concord. Approximately 80 middle grade students from 22 schools participated. At the state meet, the students are given three written tests. Based on those results, the 12 top-scoring competitors then compete in the Countdown Round which is a fast-paced test in which the questions are projected on a screen and the students have a maximum of 45 seconds in which to answer. After the exciting Countdown Round the winners are announced and awarded trophies, medals and plaques.
The top four students in the State Countdown Round are the following:
1st Place - Anirudh Pulugurtha, Academy for Science and Design
2nd Place - Benton Zhang, Hollis Brookline Middle School
Semi-finalist - Andrew Lu, Oyster River Middle School
Semi-finalist - Hannah Thomas, Academy for Science and Design
The following are the three top teams at the State Meet:
1st Place - Academy for Science & Design, Karen Legault (Coach)
2nd Place - Oyster River Middle School, Ruth Gehling (Coach)
3rd Place - Richmond Middle School, Tom Wharton (Coach)
Based on their written test scores at the State meet, the following four very talented and excited students will make up the NH State Team that goes to Orlando, FL to compete in the National Competition in May:
1st Place - Anirudh Pulugurtha, Academy for Science and Design, Karen Legault (Coach)
2nd Place - Benton Zhang, Hollis Brookline Middle School, Devin Fauteux (Coach)
3rd Place - Arjun Puninchittaya, Ross A. Lurgio Middle School, Paul Arendarczyk (Coach)
4th Place - Ameya Kharade, Academy for Science and Design, Karen Legault (Coach)
If you are interested in coaching a team, volunteering to help at a competition or making a donation to MATHCOUNTS, please contact the NH Society of Professional Engineers at www.nspe-nh.org.