Young mathematicians flex mental muscles at Edmonds School District Math Olympiad

While many of their peers were still asleep, 137 fifth- and sixth-graders from across the Edmonds School District gathered at Edmonds College Saturday, April 18 for a different kind of marathon.

Trading cleats for pencils, the students competed in the fifth annual Edmonds Math Olympiad, a high-energy event dedicated to logic, problem-solving and teamwork.

The competition, co-hosted by Edmonds College and the Edmonds School District, saw 37 teams face off in five grueling rounds of questions covering diverse areas of mathematics, according to Pat Averbeck from the college’s mathematics faculty. The event was made possible through a long-standing partnership between Averbeck and Bryan Hogue of the District’s Maplewood K-8 School, who work together to coordinate the logistics of the rigorous day with many parent volunteers.

A Different Kind of Competition

For many participants, the Olympiad offers a rare opportunity to be celebrated for academic prowess in a competitive, high-stakes environment. One volunteer noted the unique atmosphere of the morning, stating “This is the only time that my students can do a competition that is not based on physical ability.”

The sentiment was echoed by organizers who observed students huddled over complex equations, debating theorems and strategies with the same intensity usually reserved for the championship playoffs.

Recognizing Excellence: The Winners

After a morning of intense calculations, several teams emerged at the top of the leaderboard for their respective grade levels:

5th Grade Division

1st Place: Maplewood K-8 (Bay Poppsinger, Brandon Lin, Briar Chamberlain, Fiona Chamberlain and Theo Meares)
2nd Place: Madrona K-8 (Ila Agrawal, Jimmy Chen, Benny Besancon and Alsamawal Alrufaie)
3rd Place: Madrona K-8 (Annabelle Hermanowski, Olivia Kim and Charlotte Porter)

6th Grade Division

1st Place: Terrace Park (Ian Chung, Eyob Anteneh and Rishi Chakraborty)
2nd Place: Madrona K-8 (Prashna Sigdel, Joanna Sanders, Devik Makhnotra and Miguel Hernandez)
3rd Place: Maplewood K-8 (Barrett Allard, Eliana Levitan and Juniper Chang)

The event, supported by the Edmonds College Foundation, is designed to do more than just test skills — it aims to change mindsets, the college said. According to Edmonds College Dean Carey Schroyer, who oversees the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Program, these early interventions are critical for long-term success in technical fields.

“Middle school is often the tipping point when many young people quietly decide whether math is ‘for them’ or not,” Schroyer said. “Competitions like the Edmonds Math Olympiad interrupt that doubt and replace it with challenge, excitement and a sense of belonging. When Edmonds College opens its campus to middle schoolers for events like this, we’re not just hosting a competition; we’re creating momentum and actively building the region’s future engineers, health professionals and informed citizens.”