Heritage Middle School students win at Berry College Math Contests
Berry College has been holding math contests for Georgia high schools since 1972. In 1997, Berry added middle school competitions – two a year, one semester for sixth graders and one for seventh and eighth graders.
Heritage Middle School teams are a fixture at Berry’s contests.
“Heritage is great,” says Berry Associate Professor of Mathematics Education Dr. Martha Tapia, who heads up the competitions. “They’re almost always the first school to register for each competition.”
Heritage is a Heritage Middle School sixth grader Emily Lin (left) won second place in the individual category at this year’s Berry College Mathematics Contest. Parker Taylor (middle) placed third and Eli Tollett (right) placed second in the individual category at the seventh/ eighth grade competition. (Contributed photo)
winning school, too.
On September 19, HMS’s sixth grade team took third place, and team member Emily Lin placed second in
the individual category.
On October 12, the HMS seventh/eighth grade team placed first. In the individual category Eli Tollett placed second and Parker Taylor placed third.
Last year, all Heritage Middle School teams took first place in the Berry College Mathematics Contest.
HMS math teacher Charlene Higgins has been coaching the school’s math teams for the past two years. “We work a lot on timing,” she says. “The kids have to work fast for the competitions.” Higgins also coaches the school’s Academic Bowl Team.
Higgins says she wishes there were more math competitions within a reasonable distance. “There are a lot in the Atlanta area, but that’s a little far to go. We’ll be competing at one at UTC in November.”
“I like watching the sixth graders when they compete,” says Dr. Tapia from Berry. “They’re so eager and get so excited. They love math and aren’t afraid to show it.”
Congratulations Heritage Middle School Math Teams! Way to go!