Volunteers

MathCounts Manhattan simply would not function without the tireless dedication of its many volunteers. Take a moment to read some of their stories below. If you are interested in volunteering or would simply like more information, please take a moment to contact us or sign up to help with the MathCounts Manhattan 2010 event.

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We offer special thanks to the following volunteers for making the 2009 competition such a success!

Alice Chou

Andrei Gnepp

Andrew Soleyn

Annie Wong

Anquinette Barry

Bill Gross

Bob Luoma

Bobak Moazami

Christina Ardelian

Clare Herron

Clive Neal

Colin Desouza

Darrell William

Demetria Quick

Elaine Wnag

Faith Kim

Frankie Luo

Garonne Decossard

Gurkamal Kaur

Heidi Chang

Ian Driver

Ivy Wong

Jack Ming Po

Jasmine Cruz

Jean Zhao

Jennifer Yoo

Jerry Ing

Kamilah Bryan

Lashuana Rayford

Lawrence Lo

Linda Agyemang

Lynn Chawengwongsa

Marc Chiffert

Marie Olivares

Mary Okotiuero

Matthew Smedberg

Meena Boppana

Mei Fung

Nancy Chen

Natoya Osborne

Nicole Davis

Omolade Ajayi

Ronan Langellier

Ruth Gross

Salma Mohamad

Sarmina Karim

Shamena Bunting

Shawn Hamlin

Skyler Foster

Susie Lee

Tamika Campbell

Thomas Ward

Thu Huynh

Tiffany Mak

Tristan Felix

Vanessa Seville

Victoria Hom

Yasmin Davis

Volunteer Profiles:

Ravi Boppana:

When I was a kid in high school, I joined the math team. At the first practice, I got the first problem wrong while everyone else got it right. I thought about quitting right then. I’m glad I didn’t. Over the next three years, I got a lot better. In retrospect, math team was the most influential part of my high school experience. Because of math team and math contests, I studied math in college and grad school. I later taught math and computer science at Rutgers and NYU. I vowed that if I ever had a child, I would expose him or her to the beauty of math.

Fast forward 20 years. Now I have a daughter Meena. Because of my vow, I started volunteering for MathCounts in 2005. Meena was too young for MathCounts then, but I figured that volunteering would be a good way to learn about the contest. The next year, I coached a team at Meena’s school (Dalton). It was the first time Dalton ever had a MathCounts team. We ended up doing pretty well (second in the state), and I got a chance to coach the New York state team at MathCounts Nationals in Washington, D.C. It was the most exciting math contest I had ever witnessed. Meena switched to a new school (Hunter), which already has an experienced coach, Ms. Krilov. I am no longer needed as a coach. But I still choose to volunteer. Last year, as an 8th grader, Meena made it to MathCounts Nationals in Denver, the highlight of her math experiences so far. Now she is too old for MathCounts. But I will continue to volunteer for MathCounts as long as I can, because it brings back such good memories. Who knows, maybe in 20 years, Meena will be volunteering for MathCounts too.

Jeremy S. Edmunds

I first volunteered with Mathcounts in 2000. After seeing how the organization uses competition to reinforce themes of individual strengths combined through teamwork to achieve a goal, I was inspired. Seeing the look of understanding flash across a student’s face is a delight to any teacher. Fill a room with those looks and the friendly competition that comes with putting awards on the line and you get a picture of what a MathCounts competition is like.

I’m delighted to serve as the Manhattan director of MathCounts and facilitate our annual competition. If you have any questions about the program, the involvement of your school, or ways that you or your business can help out, take a moment to fill out the contact form and be in touch!

LaToya Wilcher-Smith:

LaToya has volunteered with MathCounts Manhattan since 2002. She has always enjoyed math and the challenges that it brings. As Co-coordinator for the past 7 years, LaToya has seen the program grow tremendously and also how much enjoyment it has brought the students. She is excited to be a part of such a positive community event.

Would you like to create your own story as a MathCounts Manhattan volunteer? Sign up here!