The Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair offers unique challenges to those choosing to accept its rigorous demands. Ten J. Taylor Finley Middle School seventh and eighth graders captured medals in the prestigious competition, which drew hundreds of entries from dozens of Nassau and Suffolk schools.
“The Math Fair is an excellent way to help students who have an interest in mathematics explore topics outside the realm of the traditional required mathematics courses,” according to the website of the Nassau County Association of Mathematics Supervisors. “It gives top students the opportunity to do (create) original mathematics for themselves.”
Students could enter as individuals or as a member of a team. “The judging needed to be changed this year due to the pandemic,” said Kathleen Aufiero, Huntington UFSD’s chairperson of mathematics, 7-12. “Students were judged solely on their written project without the benefit of an oral presentation.”
Finley’s individual medalists included seventh graders Ludo Cattano (Title of topic: Battleship) and Aine Rimkunas (Mobius Strip) and eighth grader Olivia Polinsky (Precise Math in Architecture). Ms. Polinksy also garnered a medal last year as a seventh grader.
Finley’s team medalists included seventh graders Ronnie Carrillo and Geovanny Iglesias: The Mathematics of Downforce; seventh graders Emily Kustera, Natalie Parrott and Kathryn Schmidt: Rubik’s Cube; eighth graders Hillel Linker and Shaina Linker: How to Predict the Weather Using Probability.
The students have been working with math teachers Danielle Calderaro and Dana Rogan.
“I am so proud of the students and their advisors,” Mrs. Aufiero said. “I hope this program will continue to grow in the future.”
