On Friday, February 28, over 1,200 students from Nassau County presented at the preliminary round of the Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair held at Hofstra University.

Gilee Hershco and Boris Epie, both eighth graders, took part in the competition, as did 11th grader Sheppard Somers.

“The competition involved researching and writing a paper on a topic in mathematics, presenting that research before judges, and answering questions posed by the judges,” said Ms. Deann Reyes, Waldorf’s middle school math teacher.

“Gilee’s topic focused on math in the criminal justice system, Boris researched the physics of baseball and Sheppard presented on the vulnerabilities of majority voting. All of us are extremely proud of their hard work and fine achievement!” Reyes continued.

The Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair is an annual competition sponsored by the Nassau and Suffolk County Math Teachers’ Association as well as the New York Metropolitan Section of the Mathematical Association of America. The competition invites nearly 1,200 students in Grades 7- 12 to conduct independent research on a math topic that interests them. Once a paper is accepted by the review committee, the students make a 15-minute preliminary round presentation to the judges.

All three students made outstanding presentations and should be proud of their efforts. Congratulations to Epie and Somers who will participate in the Math Fair’s final round on Friday, May 2.

Boris Epie

Gilee Hershco

Sheppard Somers