KAMEHAMEHA MATH TEAM MU ALPHA THETA 2019
August 9, 2019
The Kamehameha Math Team had yet another great summer at the Mu Alpha Theta National Convention. For the record, Kamehameha finished in 12th place in the final overall standings out of the fifty-five schools that were competing from across the country. The Top Fifteen is considered to be the standard of excellence at the convention, and Kamehameha has now been in the Top Fifteen for twenty of the past twenty-one years. There are only a small handful of schools that can say the same thing.
In terms of individual performances, we had multiple winners. Lily Evans (class of 2019) finished in 8th place in History of Math. Danny Palimoʻo (2019) finished in 11th place in Mu Comprehensive, a challenging test over all the topics covered in all three levels. Sage Maxwell (2019) placed 9th in Number Theory. Nainoa Visperas (2021) won 12th place in Sequences and Series. Levi Fisher (2021) placed 11th in Circles. Pallas Beddow (2021) finished in 10th place for Conics and Analytic Geometry. Reece Kishimori (2021) won trophies in two different categories, finishing 12th in Analytic Geometry and 4th in Combinations and Probability. Reece has the unique distinction of winning two trophies in two days, as well as earning our highest place on a topic test.
The Chalk Talk is the speech contest held at the convention, and through the years, it has always been one of Kamehameha’s strongest contests. This year Kamehameha won trophies in two divisions of the Chalk Talk. Taylor Cox (2020) captured 9th place in the Precalculus division, and Alana Chang (2021) won 3rd place in the Algebra 2 division.
In addition, as seems to happen every year, our chaperones received positive comments about our students in terms of their behavior, courtesy, and attitude. These comments were received from the staff at the hotels and restaurants that we visited, as well as from teachers from other schools at the convention. Our chaperones felt that these comments meant much more than any trophies or standings, as I’m sure our parents will agree. Each and every one of these students is a tribute to their parents and the amazing job they did in raising such fantastic young men and women.
This leads me to that traditional moment in our program when I must bid farewell to the students and parents of our graduating class. While their talent was enormous, it was their enthusiasm for life that made them one of a kind. They also listened carefully to every piece of advice and made the most of every life lesson that they were given. This class will always hold a special place in my heart, and they will always have my deepest gratitude and love.
For the Classes of 2020 and 2021, the cycle of life will continue within our math team. Our first competition in the Oahu Math League is scheduled for September 28. Our school year will culminate next July at the 2020 Mu Alpha Theta National Convention, which will be held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
To wrap up the summer of 2019, let me once again thank all of our parents for your tremendous support in all that we do on our math team. There is absolutely no way that our program could happen without your support. On behalf of all of the students and teachers on our math team, thank you, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for all your support of the Kamehameha Math Team!
Aloha,
Regina Byrom