Huntington Trio Participates in Creative Math Program

Three Huntington UFSD students are participating in this year’s Institute of Creative Problem Solving program on the campus of SUNY College at Old Westbury.

Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School sixth grader Bennett Wagner, J. Taylor Finley Middle School seventh grader Jacob Boxer and Huntington High School freshman Dylan Wong were among 88 Long Island students selected from a field of 535 spread across grades 4-9 that took the program’s entrance exam last spring.

Selection by the Institute implies that a student is among the top one-tenth of one percent in math among all Long Island students in his/her grade. Acceptance into the program is based on school grades, teacher recommendation, a brief written statement by the student and an entrance exam.

Students spend 50 hours in classes over the course of 20 Saturday mornings. Classes began in September. “The curriculum covers mathematical topics in algebra, geometry, discrete math and number theory in addition to topics not included in the standard courses of study,” according to a program overview. “These topics include problem solving applied to probability, theory of finite differences, science applications and mass point geometry.”

The three Huntington students selected for the program are veterans of the Math Olympiad initiative.

“Over the years, many of the Institute’s graduates have gone on to win prestigious awards, including national and international math, science and engineering contests,” according to the Institute. “A number of alumni of the Institute have been selected as Intel and Siemens awardees in math, science or technology.”