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April 3, 2007

RIT/NTID Math Competition Winners Announced

From: NTID - Apr 3, 2007

Contact: Karen E. Black
karen.black@rit.edu
(585) 475-6840 voice/TTY

RIT/NTID Math Competition Winners Announced

ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 3—Rochester Institute of Technology has announced the winners of the first-ever MATHCOUNTS® competition for middle school students with hearing loss.

First place and $100 went to Ted Zoerner from Vernado Middle School in Irvine, Calif. Todd Bonheyo, from Maryland School for the Deaf in Frederick, Md., took second place and won $75, and Manual Alvarado from Vernado Middle School took third place along with $50. Each winner also received an Olympic-style medal during the awards ceremony.

The competition consisted of 35 students from schools throughout New York, Maryland, Florida and California, competing as individuals and teams to solve a variety of mathematical problems within designated time periods.

First place winner Zoerner credits his good luck charm, a small green stone turtle kept in his pocket during the competition, for helping him win.

“I’m very happy I won,” Zoerner said, “I owe my turtle, Lucky 7, a lot.”

Dr. T. Alan Hurwitz, CEO/dean for RIT’s National Technical Institute for the Deaf, was present to congratulate the participants.

“We know that many jobs require expert skills in math,” Hurwitz said. “RIT is delighted to host competitions like this to offer excitement and a sense of achievement for students while encouraging them to think about the future.”

Trophies were also given to Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St. Augustine, for having the most spirit, to Maryland School for the Deaf for best team performance and an Honorable Mention to Vernado Middle School for math skills.

Participants were accompanied by parents and teachers. They enjoyed carnival- style festivities complete with sno-cones, a magician, juggling and a man on stilts, following the awards ceremony.

The mission of the MATHCOUNTS Foundation is to increase enthusiasm for and enhance achievement in middle school mathematics throughout the United States. Every year, teachers use problems in the annual MATHCOUNTS School Handbook, meeting National Council of Teachers of Mathematics standards for grades 6-8, with more than 500,000 students. The MATHCOUNTS materials and competition series challenge students’ math skills, develop their self confidence and reward them for their achievements.

Rochester Institute of Technology is internationally recognized as a leader in computing, engineering, imaging technology, fine and applied arts, and for providing unparalleled support services for students with hearing loss. RIT is home to the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, where more than 1,100 students with hearing loss from around the world study, live, and socialize with 14,400 hearing students on RIT’s Rochester, N.Y., campus. U.S. News and World Report has consistently ranked RIT among the nation’s leading comprehensive universities.

Web address: www.rit.edu/NTID

Visit www.rit.edu/NTID/newsroom for more NTID news.

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