TORII STATION, Okinawa, Japan -- Ten teams and seven individuals competed in this year's 2007 DoDDS State MATHCOUNTS competition. Yukino Nagai, from Kadena Middle School earned the number one spot in the Individual Category.  Zama Middle School placed second in the Team Competition.  Members of the second place team were: Alex Austin, Bryant Fiesta, Emily Haun, and Jeanine Sybico.  The top team was from Aviano Middle School in Italy.
           
The competition consists of three official rounds: Sprint with 30 problems, Target with 8 problems, and Team with 10 problems.  Celebrating its 24th Anniversary, MATHCOUNTS is a nationwide math coaching and competition program designed to improve math skills among U.S. students.  Over six million students across the U.S. have participated in the MATHCOUNTS program.

Yukino Nagai, Sam Hillestad, Daniel Mikkelson, and Emily Dees will represent DoDDS in the National MATHCOUNTS Competition in Fort Worth, Texas in May. 

“The results demonstrate that quality instruction, rigorous and challenging curriculum and great teachers are factors that ensure our students in the Pacific have a competitive edge,” said Dr. Nancy Bresell, Director, DoDDS-Pacific/DDESS-Guam.