Most Valuable Class in Apangea’s online math competition selected

Students in Mr. Trent Mercia’s class of Ellis Elementary in Pocatello have been honored as Most Valuable Class (MVC) for their outstanding efforts during the Apangea i2 Math Challenge competition. The competition pitted Indiana students against Idaho students to see which state could complete the most math problems using the Apangea’s differentiated online math program.  Students in the Most Valuable Class demonstrated a true commitment to academic excellence by logging onto computers well past school hours and on weekends.

Launched on Feb. 1, the month-long contest was the first state-versus-state math challenge. Indiana and Idaho students in grades 4-12 earned points for their state’s team for every problem solved.  While Idaho did not take home the i2 trophy, the state is thrilled to celebrate the top students in each region and the Most Valuable Class. 

"I am so proud of Idaho students. They never cease to amaze me," Idaho Superintendent Tom Luna said. "They worked hard and spent thousands of hours in the month of February solving math problems. Congratulations to the MVC and regional winners and all those who took part in this great competition."

Here are the Regional Student Awardees for the i2 contest:
Region 1: Sean Hirtle, Mullan Trail Elementary, Post Falls School District &
               Beau Garland, Twin Lakes Elementary, Lakeland School District
Region 2: Dustin Houston, Northwest Childrens Home Education Center, Lewiston School District
Region 3: Tanmay Shetye, White Pine Elementary, Boise School District &
               Garrisen Cizmich, Idaho Virtual Academy
Region 4: Josh Allen, Twin Falls High School, Twin Falls School District
Region 5: Emilee Johnston, Gate City Elementary, Pocatello School District
Region 6: Daylan Bird, Mountain View Middle, Blackfoot School District

The MVC will be awarded with a trophy, t-shirts, certificates, plus lunch served by Superintendent Luna and other special quests.  One of the regional winners will be selected to win a $600 grand-prize package. 

Students in both states spent more than 60,000 hours solving problems on Apangea Math, earning a combined total of more than 15 million points by logging on at school, home and even the library, as part of the Idaho’s Online@YourLibrary program.

Apangea Math is part of the Idaho Math Initiative, a statewide initiative to raise student achievement in mathematics across all grades. Through Apangea’s online supplemental math and tutoring programs, thousands of Idaho students have received extra assistance in school and at home in the evenings and on the weekends.

~ Melissa M.