Tech Test Jr. 2024 Math Competition Winners

For 2024, 82 5^th through 8^th grade students from 16 Nevada County schools participated in the 13^th annual TechTest Jr. Math competition in late February. TechTest Jr. is a math exam that tests students’ critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

In addition to acknowledging students for their skills, it’s intended to promote the development of more critical thinking activities in the county and to help prepare them for the SAT and ACT tests. It also helps prepare students to compete in the TechTest Merit Scholarship program for high school students, which each year awards up to $15,000 in college scholarships.

This year’s high school exam will be given at Nevada Union High School on Saturday, April 27^th. For more information on the high school program, email dpistone@mtstmarys.org. Both competitions are sponsored by the Sierra Economic and Science Foundation (SESF), and TechTest Jr. is also sponsored by the Nevada County Superintendent of Schools.

All of the problems from the past 11 TechTest Jr. competitions, along with detailed solutions, can be found at https://www.nevcoexpo.org/home/techtestjr/techtest-practice-tests.

TechTest Jr. comes in two versions, one for 5^th and 6^th graders, and the other for 7^th and 8^th graders. Top finishers are recognized with medals and certificates. The top three finishers on each version of the test can select from an assortment of STEM-related prizes, which have recently included robots, quadcopters, science kits, and a Raspberry Pi single-board computer.

The competition was held at local technology companies, who have been very generous and supportive of the event for many years. This year’s hosts were AJA Video systems, coordinated by Stacey Wiederhold, and Nevada County Media (NCM), coordinated by Ramona Howard. In addition to hosting the events, these companies also provided lunch, demos, and tours for all of the students.

A big thanks to local community member Peter Murphy for helping prepare the test and for grading them, and to former Gilmore math teacher Gordon Sakaue for help in grading the tests.

Congratulations to all of the winners, and a big thank you to all of the students who participated and to the teachers at each site who helped make this happen.

The winners in the 2024 TechTest Jr. competition are as follows:

5^th Grade Top Finishers:

1^st – Luukas Coleman (Arete Charter Academy)

2^nd – Alleina Alonso (Alta Sierra)

3^rd – Ellie Green (Mt. St. Mary Academy)

6^th Grade Top Finishers:

1^st – Vera Crane (GV Charter)

2^nd – Patrick Smith (Magnolia)

3^rd – Dylan Prouty (Seven Hills)

5^th/6^th Grade Overall Top Finishers:

1^st – Vera Crane

2^nd – Patrick Smith

3^rd – Dylan Prouty

7^th Grade Top Finishers:

1^st – Lena Von Ruden (Magnolia)

2^nd – Ivy Wayman (Seven Hills)

3^rd – Jasper Levinson (Gilmore)

8^th Grade Top Finishers:

1^st – Tryggvi Pehling (Twin Ridges Charter)

2^nd – Mykolas Sutherlin (GV Charter)

3^rd – Atticus Guy (Seven Hills)

7^th/8^th Grade Overall Top Finishers:

1^st – Tryggvi Pehling

2^nd – Mykolas Sutherlin

3^rd – Atticus Guy