Article by Phoenix Writer Micah Joseph ’27
Latin School Math Bee Runner-up Connor Deruvo (L) and Champion Tristan Deane (R).
The winner of this year’s Kellenberg Memorial Annual Latin School Math Bee is Tristan Deane, Class of 2030.
As a Latin School math teacher, Mrs. Neeson is extremely proud of not only the students who won, but the students who participated.
“Math is everywhere…it’s wonderful to see them so eager to participate… I’m very impressed by their demeanor… how comfortable they were… they embraced and wanted to win,” said Mrs. Neeson.
A nearly thirty year tradition, this is a highly anticipated competition for Latin School math minds. Every year, thirty-four of the best math students come together and compete against each other. The format is simple: the organizer reads a math question out loud, and, within ten seconds, the participants have to use their mental math skills to figure out the answer.
The questions are a variety of algebra and arithmetic, and are far from simple. The top two contestants, the winner and the runner up, get the chance to compete against schools across Nassau, Suffolk, Queens, and other upstate middle schools in Kellenberg’s Math invitational competition.
The runner up was Connor Deruvo, Class of 2032. This was Deruvo’s first ever Math bee here at Kellenberg Memorial. What a way to start his career with a runner up finish.
Before the actual Math Bee happens, there is an in-class portion where every student tries to compete for a spot in the Bee. The winners of their class competition are not only champions of their class, but they get the chance to compete in the bee.
Mrs. Neeson has expressed her gratitude for all of the students in the bee. She was extremely impressed by how well these students handled the pressure of not only computing problems in their heads, but having the courage to stand on stage and still have the composure, confidence, and courage to be able to get the right answer.
Through organizing this annual event, Mrs. Neeson and the rest of the Latin School math faculty strive to accomplish making math interesting and entertaining for the students. This is an event which is designed to challenge these students not only mathematically, but also build their confidence and courage. In the Kellenberg Memorial Latin School hallways, mathematics is not just a subject—it is a celebration, a challenge, and it’s a tradition that is far from ending.
Tristan Deane and Connor Deruvo will be competing at the Kellenberg Memorial Latin School Math Invitational on May 14, competing against middle school students across New York.
