Student Becomes

Math ‘Olympian’

By Larissa Lytwyn

 Math Olympiads, an international nonprofit organization established to cultivate an appreciation of mathematics in elementary and middle school students, recently honored Michael Chen, a sixth grade student at Reed Intermediate School, with the Dr George Lenchner Medallion in recognition of the perfect score he maintained throughout the program.

 In addition to being among the Reed Intermediate children involved in this year’s Math Olympiads program, in which his cluster, 6F, received a High Team Achievement Award in Division E for its Math Olympian effort, Michael was also one of the local finalists in the National Geography Bee conducted this past January.

The Math Olympiads involves about 100,000 students nationally and 35,000 abroad. Since its inception in 1979, the organization has sought to provide challenging, thought-provoking problems that, according to Reed Intermediate School sixth grade instructor Al Finelli, Newtown students engaged with eagerness and enthusiasm.