Math bowls showcase young talent
Published 3:00 pm Thursday, March 13, 2025
Photos submitted |Fort Deposit students participate in the Math Bowl
Photos submitted | The Calhoun School math scholar Tyler Robertson earns a $50 gift card. Pictured are Lowndes Middle School Principal Jason Seaborn, Robertson and Susan Butts, education specialist and Math Bowl coordinator.
Photos submitted | Students participate in a McWane On The Move STEM Presentation during the Math Bowl
Photos submitted | Several Central Elementary School students participate in the Math Bowl
Photos submitted | Olivia Johnson receives a $50 gift card. Pictured are (left to right) Demond Mullins, director of curriculum and instruction; Johnson; Susan Butts math bowl coordinator and Ora Gordon Jackson-Steele Elementary School math coach.
Photos submitted | Students view heavy equipment demonstrations presented by the Lowndes County Highway Department during the Math Bowl.
Photos submitted | Math scholar Cordillia Hall receives a $30 gift card. Pictured (left to right) Demond Mullins, director of curriculum and instruction; LaShawnta Carnes (rear) Fort Demopolis Elementary School math coach; Hall and Susan Butts, education specialist and Math Bowl coordinator.
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Last week, the much-anticipated 2025 District-Wide Math Bowls took place, bringing together some of the brightest young mathematical minds in the Lowndes County Public School System.
The Elementary Math Bowl was held on Wednesday, March 5, at 9 a.m. at Lowndes Middle School. The contest drew an impressive audience of educators, parents and mathematics enthusiasts.
According to Superintendent Samita Jeter, the Math Bowl is designed to provide a positive experience that shows students math can be fun and to enhance their math skills.
“I believe that students learn and retain a great deal when they solve challenging questions rather than just repeating memorized facts,” Jeter said.
Among the distinguished guests in attendance were Dr. Karen Anderson, director of the Office of Mathematics Improvement (OMI), along with several regional coordinators Mark Coty, Wyconda Lewis,and Chenille Chambers. Their presence underscored the importance of fostering mathematical excellence at an early age.
Additionally, Brittany Solomon, assistant director of the Alabama Math Science and Technology Initiative (AMSTI) Region 8, and Spencer Johnson, kindergarten through fifth grade AMSTI math specialist, lent their expertise and support to the event.
Coty, OMI Region 8 math coordinator sai, “Participating in the Lowndes County Public School Annual Math Bowl is an experience that will last a lifetime for our scholars. They had the opportunity to showcase their math skills to their parents, teachers, and peers, and it was truly a ‘mathnificent’ event!”
The competition featured a variety of challenging problem-solving activities, testing students’ skills in arithmetic, logic and critical thinking. Participants demonstrated impressive mathematical agility, working individually to solve complex equations and math problems.
The energy in the room was palpable as students showcased their abilities, cheered on by a host of parents and guests who came to witness the spirited contest. Peyton Martin and Romilia Myles, two sixth grade students from Hayneville Middle School, said, “The Math Bowl was fun and exciting! It was like a brain teaser and we really enjoyed it.”
The K-5 students participating in the Elementary Math Bowl had the opportunity to attend a STEM presentation by McWane On The Move, which was made possible by a grant provided by the McWane Science Center in Birmingham. The trip allowed the students to engage in an interactive activity while waiting for their turn to compete in the Math Bowl.
The Secondary Math Bowl took place on Thursday, March 6 at Lowndes Middle School for grades six through 12. Three engaging rotations were scheduled for the students: a heavy equipment demonstration by the Lowndes County Highway Department, a session on flying drones with Dr. Stephen Walker from Alabama Technology In Motion and a power safety presentation by Pioneer Electric.
All schools were represented in the Math Bowl, with each school sending its top five math students per grade level. All participants received a snack bag and a medallion. Students who placed first, second and third in each grade level received Walmart gift cards valued at $50, $30, and $20, respectively.
The District-Wide Science Fair and Math Bowls are part of an ongoing effort to improve STEM education in Lowndes County Public Schools. The 4-5 STEM Program, under the leadership of Susan Butts, successfully raised over $40,000 from various entities to fund student activities and rewards.
The distinguished donors consisted of the Lowndes County Commission, Lowndes County Economic Development Commission, Hayneville Telephone Company, Senator Robert Stewart, Alabama Power, SABIC, Lily Missionary Baptist Church, First Citizens Bank and BJ Auto.
In addition to the prizes awarded on the day of the Math Bowls, all students who participated in the District-Wide Science Fair and the District-Wide Math Bowls are eligible to receive a free 4-5 STEM t-shirt and an all-expense-paid field trip to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville. The trip includes lunch at the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, dinner at Dave & Buster’s in Birmingham — where each student will receive a $20.00 play card — and transportation via charter buses for a comfortable and memorable experience.
Anderson, the Director of the Office of Mathematics Improvement, praised the event, “It is truly inspiring to see these young students engage with mathematics at such a high level. Events like these encourage not only academic excellence but also hard work and a lifelong love for learning.”
The District-Wide Math Bowls serve as a testament to the dedication of educators and the enthusiasm of students toward mathematics. Coordinators expressed their special thanks to the Math Bowl Planning Committee that consisted of Butts, as well as elementary math coaches Linda Williams (Central Elementary School), LaShawnta Carnes (Fort Deposit Elementary School) and Ora Gordon (Jackson-Steele Elementary School).
“With continued support from initiatives like OMI and AMSTI, administrators, parents, teachers, students and our Central Office Staff, the future of mathematics education in the district looks exceptionally bright,” Butts said. “As the competition concluded, participants left with a sense of accomplishment and excitement for future challenges. The Math Bowls have once again proven to be an invaluable opportunity for students to test their skills, build confidence and celebrate the power of numbers.”
