A total of 149 students from seven middle schools competed at the annual Ohio State Marion / Marion Technical College Math Challenge on Friday, May 8th. When the scores were calculated, the top nine students received $13,500 in scholarships from Marion Technical College and The Ohio State University at Marion.
Students from Elgin, Grant, Highland, Monclova Christian Academy, North Union, Pleasant, and River Valley Middle Schools took part.
“These students are superb with bright futures ahead. The biggest winner is our community as they continue to grow, learn and achieve,” said Dr. Ryan McCall, president of Marion Technical College.
“Welcoming so many young math enthusiasts to our campus—and encouraging them to pursue math‑driven fields—is essential to the future of medical, scientific, engineering, and industry growth in central Ohio. Math underpins countless STEM careers, and we’re thrilled to recognize these exceptional students with scholarships to The Ohio State University at Marion,” said Ohio State Marion Dean & Director Dr. Jennifer Schlueter.
“Our world‑class faculty stand ready to support them in their pursuit of an Ohio State degree, and to connect them with high‑impact internships and research opportunities along the way,” Schlueter added.
Scholarships
First-place winners in each grade earned a $1,000 scholarship to both colleges. Second-place winners earned $750 scholarships from each college, and third-place winners earned $500 scholarships from both Ohio State Marion and Marion Tech.
6th Grade
1st Place: Frank Chonko, Pleasant
2nd Place: Gaige Oyster, River Valley
3rd Place: Audrey Davis, North Union
7th Grade
1st Place: Brandon Cermak, Grant
2nd Place: Zoya Hart-Sedykh, Grant
3rd Place: Andy Campbell, Pleasant
8th Grade
1st Place: Grace Ute, Highland
2nd Place: Sidney Shaffer, Highland
3rd Place: Bryson Brooks, Grant
Winning Teams
Top-performing schools were also recognized based on the combined scores of their highest-ranking students. Each team’s members received medals, and their schools were awarded trophies.
1st Place – Highland Middle School with a score of 155
Team Members: Grace Ute, Sidney Shaffer, Dylan Johnson, Jordan Bradley, Chloe Clark, and Alayna Votaw
2nd Place – Grant Middle School with a score of 154
Team Members: Brandon Cermak, Bryson Brooks, Jonathan Huber, Zoya Hart-Sedykh, Devin Claborn, and Westin Kile
3rd Place – North Union Middle School with a score of 142.5
Team Members: Tera Fout, Jeremiah Zimmerman, Tristan Sonoda, Nunabelle Baker, Hayes Scowden, and Alyse Burmester
Event Organizers
The event is made possible each year by a dedicated team who design, coordinate, and score the competition:
- David Gorenflo, retired Tech Prep Consultant, Marion Tech
- Tyler Maley, Director of Mathematics, Marion Tech
- Micah Chrisman, Associate Professor of Mathematics, Ohio State Marion
- Scott Zimmerman, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Ohio State Marion
- Jackie Potts, Instructor of Mathematics, Marion Tech
- Brian McEnnis, Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, Ohio State Marion
- Sally O’Connor, former Adjunct Faculty, Marion Tech
- Thomas Smith III, Instructor of Mathematics, Marion Tech