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Math minds shine at VIU

Mathematics was in the spotlight at Vancouver Island University recently as some of the brightest young minds took part in the mid-Island portion of the B.C. Secondary School Math Contest.

Mathematics was in the spotlight at Vancouver Island University recently as some of the brightest young minds took part in the mid-Island portion of the B.C. Secondary School Math Contest.

The contest is an annual event organized by several colleges and universities across the province. This is the 17th year VIU has hosted the mid-Island event.

Three hundred students from Nanaimo and Parksville school districts took part in the preliminary round of 15 multiple choice questions with a 45-minute time limit and the top nine students from each school were invited to participate in the final round at VIU.

Eighty-one students from Dover Bay, Kwalikum, John Barsby, Ladysmith, NDSS, Wellington, Woodlands, Malaspina International High School, Nanaimo Christian and Aspengrove schools had to answer 10 multiple choice questions and five written questions in two hours. The top three students from each division received a $50 prize.

“The students did very well in the contest,” said Patrick Ng, VIU math professor. “They all had fun participating. We are very proud to host this event and it is very exciting to see so many young students take interest in and enjoy the challenge of mathematics.”

This year’s winners include:

Individual

Junior division –  Rachel Elliot, Dover Bay Secondary School, first place; Tom Pham, Malaspina High School, second; and Eric Roberts, Dover Bay, third.

Senior division – Jason Wang, Dover Bay, first;  Joseph Yeo, Nanaimo Christian School, second; and Insung Jun, Kwalikum Secondary School, third.

Team

Junior division – Dover Bay, first and Wellington Secondary School, second.

Senior division – Dover Bay, first,  Nanaimo District Secondary School, second.