Mt. Spokane math team finishes in 19th place in national contest

Mt. Spokane High School has some of the best mathematicians in the country. The school placed 19th in the country in the 2004 Ciphering Time Trials, a national math contest administered by National Assessment and Testing.

Students competed in 10 rounds in which they had three minutes to solve three problems. The problems in each round covered a range of topics and difficulties.

Results from students across the country were double-checked, and T.J. Houk, a junior, had the highest score at the school.

Mt. Spokane High School will participate in the National Assessment and Testing’s next contest, the Four-by-Four Competition, a team event, on Feb. 3.

G-Prep student a Coca-Cola Scholars semifinalist

Amanda Hartly, a senior at Gonzaga Prep, has been selected from more than 1,000 applicants nationwide as a semifinalist for the 2004-05 Coca-Cola Scholars Program.

Hartly is among 2,600 seniors in the running for $1.8 million in college scholarships that the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation will award this spring. Students are selected to advance to this next phase based on academic excellence, leadership and achievement demonstrated in school and community activities.

As a semifinalist, students must submit additional information that will be reviewed in February by a committee composed of 30 educators from high schools and universities throughout the United States.

If she advances, Hartly will be among 250 finalists who will travel to Atlanta April 14-17, to attend the Coca-Cola Scholars Weekend. During their visit they will attend a final interview process that will determine whether they are designated as either a National or Regional Scholar.

The 50 National Scholars will each receive a $20,000 scholarship award, while the 200 Regional Scholars will each receive a $4,000 scholarship.