Math brains unite at OCC

Christine Carrillo

Some people might find it hard to get excited about taking a test,

but for nearly 90 high school math whizzes, the excitement lies in

being able to flaunt their calculating talents.

For the 47th year in a row, Orange Coast College held its math

meet Friday afternoon that hosts high school students throughout

Orange County.

“It’s great because they enjoy getting together with other high

school students ... and they like the recognition,” said Stan

Johnson, the college’s dean of math and science, who participated in

the math meet in 1964. “It’s something the students enjoy ... and

it’s also a way for faculty to meet.”

For an hour, the students, many of whom are taking advancement

placement calculus and statistics at their respective high schools,

moved through question after question hoping the Scantrons will

reveal their genius, rather than illuminate their room for growth.

“I just hope I do well,” said 16-year-old Tinny Chang, a junior at

Cypress High School. “I think it’s not totally about competition but

also the experience, seeing how other schools do.”

The experience, for some participants, has been an annual one.

Mel Komatsu, a math teacher at Cypress, has attended the

competition with a team of students for 29 years.

“It’s just fun. It’s interesting and it’s just one afternoon,”

Komatsu said. “It’s fun for them to see how good they are and to see

some totally different types of questions and to learn how to test

well.”

While some schools were veterans of the college’s math meet,

others were competing for the first time.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for them to show off,” said

Ethan Threadgill, a math teacher at Aliso Niguel High School,

attending the competition for the first time. “It’s kind of fun, if

you excel in a certain subject or area, to represent your school.”

The competition included 11 high schools with four students per

team and up to four alternates. Following the competition, the

students were treated to dinner and recognized with awards both

individually and by teams.