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.
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