MATHCOUNTS Competition winners to be honored at awards banquet

The program aims to improve pupils' math skills.
YOUNGSTOWN -- The following are team and individual winners of the local 2003-04 MATHCOUNTS Competition held at Youngstown State University recently.
Local winners will be honored at an awards banquet Feb. 26 at Ala Cart Catering in Canfield. Many advance to the state competition in Columbus in March. Winners there advance to the national MATHCOUNTS finals in Washington, D.C.
MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide math competition for sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade pupils sponsored by the National Society of Professional Engineers. It is designed to address the problem of declining math skills among U.S. pupils.
The local competition for schools in Mahoning, Trumbull, and Columbiana counties is sponsored by the Mahoning Valley Society of Professional Engineers, YSU's William Rayen College of Engineering & amp; Technology, Dominion East Ohio, Davis Foundation and General Motors Lordstown.
The winners
This year's award winners are as follows.
TOP SIX TEAMS (TOP FOUR ADVANCE TO THE STATE CONTEST)
First place: Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley, Boardman; Mike Goldthwait, Jon Proch, Sean Sikich and Ben Smith.
Second place: Holy Family School, Poland; Steven Bosela, Jarod Emerson, Kevin Sympson and Joseph Vukovich.
Third place: Howland Middle School; Melissa Lubert, Manish Mehta, Monica Neuman and Neil Patel.
Fourth place: Boardman Center Middle School; Abi Dawson, Greg Knight, Tyler Perrino and Danielle Williams.
Fifth place: W.S. Guy Middle School, Liberty; Zack Brown, Jimmy Lu, Ben Stoyak and Jon Weisberg.
Sixth place: Lakeview Middle School; David Barnes, Michael Bernard, Heath Harris and Paul Monroe.
TOP SIX INDIVIDUALS
First: Jon Proch, Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley.
Second: Maureen Sweet, East Middle School, Warren.
Third: Jimmy Lu, W.S. Guy Middle School, Liberty.
Fourth: Heather Stefek, Poland Middle School.
Fifth: Kourtney Kersten, South Range Middle School.
Sixth: Patrick Slattery, Poland Middle School.
QUALIFIED FOR STATE COMPETITION
Maureen Sweet, East Middle School, Warren; Jimmy Lu, W.S. Guy Middle School, Liberty; Heather Stefek, Poland Middle School; Kourtney Kersten, South Range Middle School; Patrick Slattery, Poland Middle School; Michael Minnick, St. Patrick School, Hubbard; Grace Brantingham, Lakeview High School; Heath Harris, Lakeview Middle School.
COUNTDOWN ROUND WINNERS
The following received $50 U.S. savings bonds from the Arby's Restaurant at YSU: Jon Proch, Montessori School of the Mahoning Valley, Boardman; Manish Mehta, Howland Middle School; Joseph Vukovich, Holy Family School, Poland; Tyler Reed, Canfield Middle School.
MOST IMPROVED SCHOOL
Boardman Center Middle School.
BEST NEW SCHOOL
Lakeview High School; Grace Brantingham, Steven Lane, Mathew Metzger, Brigitte Morvay.
MATHBOWL CHAMPION
W.S. Guy Middle School, Liberty.