Students place at regional 24 Challenge

Math training that started in the fall paid off for several students who placed in the finals and semifinals of the regional 24 Challenge held at Lock Haven University-Clearfield campus. The math-related competition, based on the 24 Game, challenges students to create the number 24 by using a series of given numbers.

Elementary math coach Stephanie Culley said some students started studying as early as October, with help from their math teachers and math interventionist Pat Zimmerman, in preparation for the tournaments -- often practicing during their lunch periods.

Each building with student participants then held its own building-level tournament, starting in April. The top eight students from fourth- through sixth-grades qualified for a district tournament held April 27 at the middle school. From there 35 students then qualified for the regional tournament.

Regional semifinalist:
Sophie Harper, fourth-grade, Bellefonte Elementary
Preston Barnhart, fourth-grade, Pleasant Gap Elementary
Caleb Auman, fifth-grade, Pleasant Gap Elementary
Emma Proctor, fifth-grade, Pleasant Gap Elementary
Kaden Cooper, sixth-grade, Bellefonte Area Middle School

Regional finalists:
Braden Bickle, sixth-grade, Bellefonte Area Middle School
Christian Reigh, fifth-grade, Marion-Walker Elementary School

*By Brit Milazzo, public relations director, BASD