CAMBRIDGE — On May 4, 70 elementary school “Student Mathletes” representing grades 1 through 5 came together at Mace’s Lane Middle School for a chance to compete in the First Annual Dorchester County Public Schools Math 24 Tournament Challenge.

Initially, students competed at their individual schools and then each school sent the top 2 grade level representatives to compete for a chance to be crowned the County-Wide Math 24 Grade Level Champion.

A total of 14 students from each grade participated in rounds one and two. From there, the top 8 students advanced to compete in round 3. The final round, round 4, consisted of the top 4 student mathletes competing for a chance at 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place at each of their respective grade levels.

The following students were named Grade Level Math 24 Champions:

Grade 1

1st, Peyton Blyer, South Dorchester; 2nd, Carter Pinder, Choptank Elementary; 3rd, Keith Biggar, Hurlock Elementary; 4th, Rileigh Dennis, Warwick Elementary

Grade 2

1st, Dontrel Perkins, Choptank Elementary; 2nd, Aiden Gorsuch, Warwick Elementary; 3rd, Mace Trippett, Vienna Elementary; 4th, Matthew Suggs, South Dorchester

Grade 3

1st, Jeron Jones, Hurlock Elementary; 2nd, JaMyah Pickett, Vienna Elementary; 3rd, Andrew Ruppert, Warwick Elementary; 4th, Braydin Kinnamon, Choptank Elementary

Grade 4

1st, Logan Criss, Choptank Elementary; 2nd, Luis Fonseco-Gonzalez, Hurlock Elementary; 3rd, Ta’Korie Demby, Choptank Elementary; 4th, Daniel Hesson, South Dorchester

Grade 5

1st, Said Claderon, Choptank Elementary; 2nd, Ricky Argueta, Choptank Elementary; 3rd, Landon Abey, Warwick Elementary: 4th, Reggie Cooper, Hurlock Elementary

This event would not have been possible without the very generous support of 1880 Bank who fully sponsored the tournament with a grant of almost $7,000! This was used to purchase game cards and Eggspert timers for all of the schools in the county, plus those needed for the tournament itself. It was also used to purchase t-shirts for student and staff participants and medals for our winners. Additionally, Suntex International, the creator of Math 24, also assisted with providing prizes for all seventy participants.

The continued support from the DCPS Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Henry Wagner, Assistant Superintendents Dr. Lorenzo Hughes and Dwayne Abt, as well as Supervisors Regina Teat, Donna Greenleaf and Dr. Michael Johnson has been integral in launching such an event within the school system.

A huge thank you to all of the DCPS math coaches, elementary school principals, volunteer staff and parents who made this event possible. And special thanks to the core leadership team of Frank Klauder, assistant principal of Choptank Elementary School; Emma Pinkett, principal of Choptank Elementary School; and Rachel Wise, mathematics coach for their outstanding leadership!

We look forward to watching this very well attended event grow over the next few years!