Whiz Kid: Meet Jacob Wachspress

Fourteen-year-old Jacob "The Calculator" Wachspress placed third at the Pennsylvania State MATHCOUNTS competition held recently. 

For his acomplishments, Jacob will represent Pennsbury at the National MATHCOUNTS in Washington, D.C., in May.

"I was genuinely surprised when they announced my name," Jacob said.

Ann Langtry, Coordinator of Communications for the Pennsbury School District, said that this is the first time that Pennsbury has three out of the top four winners, and just the second time in 28 years to have a student move on to Nationals.

Jacob is on the William Penn baseball team and two other baseball teams which he said keeps him active and fit. His team nicknames, in addition to "The Calculator", are "The Protractor" and "Dexter."

Between baseball games and MATHCOUNTS practice, Jacob finds time to volunteer at the Woods Services Center to assist developmentally challenged children in various activities.

Jacob said his plans for the future aren’t set yet, but he hopes to work in a math-related profession, possibly as an engineer.