Whiz Kids: Beaver Lake Middle School Math Team Impresses at State Competition

Each week, Sammamish Patch will seek suggestions from readers for individual kids, youth groups, teens, and even sports teams who wow us with their accomplishments.

For the week ending Friday, May 20, we congratulate students from Beaver Lake Middle School, which is in Issaquah and just next to Sammamish.

School and Neighborhood: Beaver Lake Middle School. 

Accomplishments: Beaver Lake Middle School’s math team had a remarkable showing at the recent state championship in Blaine. Seven, 4-person teams from the school competed and three finished in the top 10. Two boys, Michael Cao and Caleb Mok, also finished in the top 10 individually. 

“It’s a big deal for these kids and their parents,” said Dennis Rogers, the team’s coach.

The Washington state math competition is considered the most prestigious math competition in the Northwest, and with more than 2,000 kids usually competing is one of the largest such academic competitions in Washington. 

Both Rogers and Beaver Lake Middle School Principal Josh Almy are especially proud of having such a successful public school team. Almy said that most of the schools in the top 10 are private schools.

“It is amazing that a large public school did so well,” Almy said.

Key to awesomeness: The math team meets once a week from December through May. During meetings, they play math games, go over previous tests and help each other with problems.

“I want kids to have fun with math,” said Rogers.

Rogers sometimes has the more experienced students prepare lessons for their fellow team members. This challenges the students to be at their best.

“If you can teach it, you know it,” said Rogers.

Rogers credits the team’s success to the hard work the students have put in and the support of their parents.

Rogers also gives Beaver Lake Middle School a lot of credit for producing talented students by encouraging everyone and giving students a variety of opportunities to be successful.

“This is a remarkable school,” said Rogers.

2011 Math Team Roster:

6th Grade:

Paari Gopal
Tasha Mok
Christina Nguyen
Erika Kumar

Gayathri Raj
Ishira Parikh
Michelle Laqab
Shilpa Narayanan

Chris Yoo
David Cao
Kendrick Lu
Jared Stever

7th Grade:

Anna Johnson
Arjun Kumar
Lisa Tang
Caleb Mok

Suvir Copparam
Manu Sharma
Adithya Mukund
Pranav Kartha

8th Grade:

Jack Yang
Tommy Lin
Michael Cao
Brian Shih

Editor's note: Sammamish Patch wants to hear about amazing children and teens and select one or one groups each week for a tip of the hat. If you know of such a student or students, please contact Brad Wong, Sammamish Patch editor, at brad.wong@patch.com.