Eleanor Jenkins is good at math. Really good.
Eleanor, an eighth grade student at Broad Creek Middle School, won first place during Onslow County School’s annual MathCounts competition held Thursday at Clyde Erwin Elementary School.
“It was just really fun for the experience and I want to do it again,” said Eleanor, who participated in the competition for the first time.
The national coaching program is designed to stimulate seventh and eighth grade students’ interest and achievement in mathematics, according to information from Onslow County Schools. On Thursday, nine teams (more than 50 middle school students) from area schools participated in the competition. Each school had teams of four and up to two alternates with teachers and volunteers coaching the team beginning in the fall and continuing throughout the year.
Michelle Wright, a math teacher with Swansboro Middle School coaching for the first time team, said coaches get just as involved in the competition as the kids do.
“I was very antsy when it came to them sitting and doing the work,” Wright said. “I want them to do well. It’s weird how nervous I get even though I’m not the one that’s actually doing the work.”
Students competed in various rounds on Thursday including a sprint round, target round, team round and ciphering round, where each school is represented by one student who then has less than a minute to solve problems.
Onslow County schools will participate in the regional MathCounts competition on Feb. 28 in Wilmington.
Despite the potential size of the competition, Eleanor — the first place winner overall — said she is excited for the next round of competition.
“I am nervous,” she said, “but I cannot wait.”
