Woodlands Academy makes impressive math contest debut
LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart's first-ever participation in the Illinois Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (ICTM) annual contest culminated in four top-10 finishes at the state finals May 5 at the University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign.
In the Division 1A (small schools) competition, Woodlands' Mathcats placed:
• Third in the freshman/sophomore eight-person team event.
• Seventh in the freshman/sophomore two-person team event.
• Seventh overall in Algebra 1 (based on the combined scores of Woodlands Academy's six participants in this individual competition).
• Eighth in the Algebra 1 event, won by freshman Ingrid Hu (out of 149 contestants).
The members of Woodlands Academy's third-place team were: Hanna Bryce, Liz Coughlin, Gabriella Flores, Ingrid Hu, Kitty Lu, Stephanie Harpold, Kate Wiegand and Natalie Williams.
Woodlands' two-person team consisted of: Ingrid Hu and Kitty Lu.
In addition to Hu, freshmen Hanna Bryce, Gabriella Flores, Stephanie Harpold, Kate Wiegand and Natalie Williams competed in the Algebra 1 individual event.
While the all-girls college prep day-and-boarding high school in Lake Forest has participated in other math contests in the past, Math Club moderator Dr. Mihaela Marcusanu decided it was time to "up the game" a bit this year. "We chose ICTM because of the variety of subjects and of the skills within one subject that it provides," she said.
En route to the state finals, Woodlands Academy placed second overall in Division 1A at its inaugural ICTM event, the Region 20 Competition held at Niles West High School Feb. 24.
"I'm so proud of our students' stellar accomplishments and of the leadership of our math teachers resulting in this very successful debut in the ICTM math competition," said Head of School Meg Steele.
Assistant Principal Rocco Gargiulo - who also teaches some math classes - adds, "These accomplishments confirm Woodlands Academy's commitment to STEM fields as well as the math department's role in transforming our outstanding girls into empowered young women."
According to organizers, the purpose of the ICTM State Math Contest is to recognize outstanding mathematical achievement, encourage independent study, stimulate interest in mathematics, and provide a wholesome meeting ground for students and teachers of mathematics through academic competition. It's been an annual event since 1980.
Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It's part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy's identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For more information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org