KENNESAW, GA—Fifth grader Amish Panchumarthy solved more than 147,000 math problems on his way to becoming the #1 First In Math player in Georgia, all grades. The Chalker Elementary School fifth-grader also ranks #3 in the United States among all grades—an achievement that earned him a First In Math All Star Award.
National Top Ten Award Winner Amish Panchumarthy and his father pose with Assistant Principal Annette Bishop (l) and Principal Sharon Arduino (r) in front of a mural at the school on May 9, 2013.
“We are incredibly proud of Amish,” says Chalker Principal Sharon Arduino. “And I am also proud of all of our students for doing such a great job this year.”
The school arranged to bring in Amish’s father as a surprise guest, and he watched proudly as First In Math Vice President, Barbara Asteak, and local FIM representative, Brett Eaker, presented the All Star trophy to his son. “It was an honor to present Amish with this award recognizing him as one of the Top Ten Players in the nation,” says Eaker, who added that he is glad to see the program becoming more and more popular in Georgia.
There will be additional recognition and awards presented to other students and schools at a later date, according to Asteak. One of those schools, Teasley Elementary, is home to the top five first-grade teams in the state, including teacher Marcia Moore’s first-place team, sonic69ga. The school also has the top two individual first grade players, the top two second grade players, the #4 and #5 fourth grade players in the state, and is ranked the #4 school in Georgia. Principal Leslie Mansfield says that the “The First In Math program has created enormous energy among the students in our building and all of our teachers and parents are delighted.”
Another Cobb County school, Bells Ferry Elementary, is home to the #2 third grade team in Georgia, Charmaine Kent’s team azure38ga, as well as the #1 and #4 third grade players and the #2 and #3 fourth grade players in the state.