Montverde Academy’s STEM program places an emphasis on the pursuit of scientific exploration by utilizing the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math.  Experimentation and self-discovery: These are the two key elements of STEM examinations.  Mr.  Matthew Parets, Upper School Computer Science teacher, informed Montverde.org that last semester STEM students did just that when they were presented with a simple challenge – to build a tower. The materials? Spaghetti and marshmallows.

“As the weeks progressed the groups of students tried different tactics in an attempt to build higher and higher.  As new techniques were tried it was quickly discovered that there is a reason that triangles are so commonly seen in construction. This basic shape can support a lot of force without breaking, while leaving room for creativity of design.  Once towers topped more than a meter the materials where changed up to increase the challenge.  Marshmallows were replaced by simple tape. Noodles were replaced by paper. This spring, STEM students will take their building skills and use them to construct bridges.  A competition where the materials are balsa wood and glue,” stated Mr. Parets.

Every year, MVA seniors in the STEM Study Area Concentration (SAC) program take part in their Senior STEM Research Seminars – where students find a problem of interest and then produce a unique hypothesis they will answer over the course of a semester.  Using the scientific method, they each create and perform an experiment to support their answer to the hypothesis.  The project culminates in presenting their results to the public.  

This school year, for example, student, Xintong (Dylan) Deng focused on the affect that a nose cone has on the maximum height a rocket can achieve.  After putting together the experiment and purchasing the materials,  Dylan spent three days after school performing 16 launches.  For each trial the length of the rocket’s nose cone changed to help Dylan prove his hypothesis.  Dylan and other senior STEM members successfully presented their projects earlier this semester.

Xintong (Dylan) Deng

On the weekend of March 4th-6th, Eagle Powerlifters travelled to Lansing, Michigan, to compete in the American Drug Free Powerlifting Federation (ADFPF)  Single Lift National Championships.  MVA wanted break some world records – as well as break and win some individual single lift national championships.

Senior sensation and co-captain Sung-Yueh “Derek” Chang started the day off right by breaking H. Jones’ (England) M-E-T18-19-148 squat world record of 160 kgs. (352.7 lbs.) with a lift of 161 kgs. (354.9 lbs.) at a bodyweight of 145.1 lbs.  Derek also set M-E-T18-19-148 American records in the squat and bench press.  Derek won 1-M-E-T18-19-148 single lift national championships in the squat and bench press.

Co-captain Qinyi “E” Wang kept up the momentum for the eagles by breaking Ryan Stewart’s (Quincy, Ohio) M-E-T18-19-165 American record in the bench press with a lift  122.5 kgs. ( 270.1 lbs.).  E won a 1-M-E-T18-19-165 single lift national championship in the bench press.

Junior Michael Megler broke teen powerlifting legend Mason Harbour’s (DeGraff, Ohio) much coveted M-E-T16-17-165 deadlift world record of 220.0 kgs. (485.0 lbs.) with a lift of 227.5 kgs. (501.5 lbs.) at a bodyweight of 159.0 lbs.  This lift also set a M-E-T16-17-165 American record in the deadlift and earned a 1-M-E-T16-17-165 single lift national championship.

211.2 lb. Alejandro Ruiz shattered strongman Isaac Redman’s (Mount Vernon, Indiana) M-E-T16-17-220 deadlift world record of 227.5 kgs. (501.5 lbs.) with a lift of 250.0 kgs. (551.2 lbs.).  Alejandro also set a M-E-T16-17-22 world record in the bench press and American records in both the deadlift and the bench press.  He also earned 1-M-E-T16-17-220 single lift national championships in the bench press and deadlift.

Montverde Academy powerlifters will continue training for the APF Single Ply National Powerlifting Championships on May 29^th at the Double Tree in Orlando where they hope to set several WPC world records.  Coach Eric Pauli told Montverde.org, “To compete at the WPC Worlds next November, a lifter has to finish in the top 3 in his respective age group and weight class at the Nationals in Orlando!”   

Montverde Academy sophomore Sydney Johnson-Scharpf recently finished her second training camp for this month as she attempts to find a position on USA National Gymnastics squads traveling to Italy for competition.  Sydney has accomplished her goal!   She made her first senior squad to the International Jesolo Cup meet in Italy on March 19-20 – joining other great USA athletes like reigning Olympic all-around champion Gabby Douglas! 

The annual City of Jesolo Trophy welcomes the most talented gymnasts around the world – and provides a first look at some of the premier athletes competing for the rest of the year  - and at the 2016 Olympic Games.  Countries competing in 2016 include Italy, USA, Brazil, France, Canada, Finland, and Slovenia.  Last summer, Sydney competed in her age-division at the USA Gymnastics Championships and successfully qualified to join the Jr. National Team. Most impressive was that Sydney was only 1 of 6 girls named to the team. 

Congratulations to Mr. Steve Gilbert, Director of Media Arts, and the Montverde Academy Media Arts Program for being presented their 3^rd official media award for the MVA Today Show!  Montverde Academy’s Media Arts Program was presented a Gold Award last month from the International AVA Digital Awards 2016 competition – represented by the United States, Canada, and 17 other countries.  Out of 2,500 entries, only 41% were awarded with a Platinum, Gold, or Honorable Mention awards.  As a Gold Award winner, Montverde Academy was 1 of 475 entrants to receive this award, which included universities, non-profits, and private companies.

An AVA Digital Awards notification letter written to Montverde Academy stated, “Congratulations, based on the evaluations of our judges, you are an award recipient in the AVA Digital Awards 2016 competition.  AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognizes outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, direction, design and production of media that is part of the evolution of digital communication. Work ranges from audio and video productions- to websites that present interactive components such as video, animation, blogs, and podcasts – to interactive social media sites- to other forms of user-generated communication.  AVA Digital Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP).  The international organization consists of several thousand production, marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, and free-lance professionals.”

 L-R, Mr. Gilbert, Director of Media Arts, an Mr. Troy Urquhart, Dean of the Upper School

Montverde.org is proud to report that earlier this month (Friday, March 4, 2016) Montverde Academy’s Middle School won their annual MVA National Training Center Track Meet!  The event was held on the Pure Athletics Private Elementary/Middle School Track of the National Training Center (NTC)  – located off of Highway 50, in Clermont, Florida.  For the seventh consecutive year, our school won several events necessary to bring home the championship trophy!

Montverde Academy competed against three highly competitive regional schools: Real Life Christian Academy, Foundation Academy and Downey Christian School.  This year’s track meet was very close – especially between Montverde Academy and Real Life Christian Academy.  Nonetheless, in the final 3 events (200m, 400m and 100m-relay), Montverde Academy was able to capture victory!  For overall results of  each event, please visit the this link: NTC Track Meet 2016.  The final scores were as follows:

1)       Montverde Academy 161

2)       Real Life Christian Academy  127

3)       Foundation Academy  43

4)       Downey Christian School  13

Congratulations to Montverde Academy senior Hannah Futo who was named the March 2016 Student Champion by the South Lake Chamber of Commerce and honored at the Chamber’s monthly breakfast held last Friday, March 18^th.  Futo is a member of MVA’s National Honor Society, National Spanish Honor Society, National Society of High School Scholars and Key Club.  Hannah is also a member of the Montverde Academy Leadership Institute, and captain of the Montverde Academy Girls Varsity Softball and Varsity Golf teams.  At the Academy, Hannah has volunteered at the Boys and Girls Club and the Montverde Academy softball camp. She has maintained a 4.0 grade point average in her honors classes and will attend Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut, and play on their women’s softball team.

The Student Champion program recognizes students that are champions academically and positive role models in the community. Student Champions are chosen by the Chamber’s Community Relations Committee. The program is sponsored by Ameriprise Financial (Wesley Reed). The South Lake Chamber of Commerce began as the Clermont Chamber of Commerce in February 1922, when it absorbed its forerunner, the Board of Trade. In 1996, several Lake County chambers of commerce merged to create the South Lake Chamber of Commerce, which has become the collective voice of our regional business community.

Photo: Troy Urquhart, Will Garland, Hannah Futo and Wesley Reed

The 2015-2016 Montverde Academy Boys’ Varsity Basketball team has been invited to compete in the 2016 DICK’S Sporting Goods High School Boys’ National Tournament held on March 31^st – April 2^nd in New York City.   All games will be televised on various ESPN television networks.  Montverde Academy will be traveling to New York on Wednesday, March 30^th and returning to Florida on Sunday, April 3^rd.  All games will be televised on the ESPN television networks. First round and second rounds will be played at Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) The DICK’S championship game will be played at Madison Square Garden.  The first-round boys’ games on March 31 will be on ESPNU:  St. Benedict’s will play La Lumiere at noon; Oak Hill will play Wasatch at 2 p.m.; Montverde Academy will play Providence Day at 4 p.m.; and Findlay Prep will play Miller Grove at 6 p.m. *Tournament brackets can be viewed HERE.

MVA’s team competed another winning regular season this month and finished 25-1.  The Eagles have been ranked very high in all reputable national high-school basketball polls throughout the 2015-2016 season.  Last season the Eagles successfully defeated Oak Hill Academy, of Mouth of Wilson, Virginia (47-1), 70-61, to win the 2015 DICK’s Nationals Championship.  After that victory, the 2014-2015 Montverde Academy Boys’ Varsity Basketball team became the first high-school basketball team to win three consecutive national titles since the decade of the 1940s.  The team’s final season record was 31-1.  MVA now seeks a 4-PEAT national championship. Also remarkable is that the MVA Boys’ Varsity Basketball program also improved their record to 132-8 over the last five seasons under Head-Coach Kevin Boyle.

As the Montverde Academy Boys’ Varsity Basketball team travels to New York this week to compete in the 2016 DICK’S Sporting Goods High School Boys’ National Tournament being held March 31^st – April 2^nd, Eagles hoops fans are excited that MVA may possibly win their 4^thconsecutive championship – but also filled fond memories of past championship victories and the talent it took to capture those victories.

One such former Eagles basketball player was 6-foot-9 power-forward Devin Williams.  As a MVA senior in 2013, he helped the Eagles achieve a 25-2 final record after MVA won the 2013 ESPN/Rise National High School Invitational ( MVA’s first national championship) by defeating St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, New Jersey) by the score of 67-65.

In the 2015-2016 NCAA College basketball season, as a junior this year on the West Virginia University Men’s Basketball team, Williams has a monumental season earning second-team All-Big 12 honors, leading the Big 12 in free-throw attempts, and averaging 13.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game.  He also attained a remarkable 16 double-doubles.  Devin was also named to the 2016 Academic All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Team with a GPA between 3.00-3.19.  Today, Williams announced he will enter the 2016 NBA Draft.  

In a recent email interview with George K. Karos, MVA’s Director of Communications, Devin disclosed that his transition from high school to university life was facilitated by the positive experiences he had as a MVA boarding student – especially knowing how to properly manage his time in order to become a successful college student-athlete in the classroom as well as on the basketball court.

Devin’s decision to attend WVU was influenced by his close relationship with his mother and Mountaineers Head Coach Bob Huggins and Assistant Coach Erik Martin.  With the constant support of these individuals, Williams further developed positive attributes that lead to success as an individual and student: Strong work ethic, personal sacrifice, and the ability to set attainable goals (both long term, and short term).

“Montverde Academy’s curriculum challenged me, and forced me to do more (get a tutor, stay after class, or schedule to see a professor outside of classes) to stay on top of my academics.  Keeping my priorities in order: School, basketball, extra time in the gym working on my game, free -me time,” stated Williams.  When asked if he had to do all over again, what would he do differently as a student at MVA, Williams replied, “ Nothing.  I needed MVA more than MVA needed me…Coach Boyle was very hard at work too.  He did a great job helping me find my role within the team,and he opened up his house to me as if I was his own.”

Montverde Academy’s notable basketball alumni population has grown considerably over the last five years – and include Ben Simmons (LSU), D’Angelo Russell (L.A. Lakers), Justin Bibbs (Virginia Tech), Kasey Hill (Florida) and Dakari Johnson (Oklahoma City Blue – NBA D-League), to name a few.  And Williams is very appreciative of his development time with his former MVA teammates.  Devin has advice for current MVA student-athletes too. He shared, “All of those guys I went against helped me grow so much on the court,and pushed me to want to be better than them.  And If you are a student athlete now – enjoy high school sports while you can.  College athletics is a job, and with the responsibilities (academics, team functions, community service, travel, media ) and it can be an overwhelming your 1st year.  If you are a student, maybe find something else you might be interested aside from academics?  A hobby, or job on the side.  In college you will have more free time because of the format of when you attend your classes (MWF/TTH).”

Earlier this month, the Montverde Academy Select Choir and members from the school’s Concert Choir competed in the Florida District 6 Choral MPA (Music Proficiency Assessment) held at the First Baptist Church of Deland, Florida.  MVA earned straight superiors from the judges in performance and sight singing, a first for Montverde Academy! The choir is now eligible to attend and compete in the State Choral MPA in later next month.  The positive results from the competition was indeed a good start to this month’s “Music in Our Schools Month” – a national celebration and recognition of music education in America.

The following is the list of MVA students who participated in the Florida District 6 Choral MPA (Music Proficiency Assessment):

• Aiden Bjortvedt
• Emily Chen
• Alicia Dean
• Nicolas Dupont
• Kyla Ellis
• Aidan Fracker
• Summer Himmelberger
• Alexander LaPlante
• Iris Lin
• Kevin McDonnell
• Gilles Parks
• Matt Parks
• Sarah Sarver
• Gabriel Semenitari
• Isabelle Taylor
• Crystal Thompson
• Aubrey Williams
• Agnes Zhang

In related news, the general public is invited to the 2016 Music Conservatory Senior Graduation Recital this Friday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. inside the Sandra O. Stephens Fine Arts Auditorium. This year, we have eight seniors who will graduate from the Music Conservatory and this recital is one of their last requirements before earning the Conservatory diploma.  Each student will perform solo pieces which represent their time in the Conservatory.  Two students, Imani Doyle and Frances Zhang, will perform longer programs as they are also completing their requirements to earn the VPA SAC diploma in music performance. The evening’s performances will last about 90 minutes and there will be a short reception with refreshments directly afterwards in the lobby of the Sandra O. Stephens Fine Arts Auditorium.

Twelve Montverde Academy Middle School students participated in the annual MS speech contest last month. The contest, which was held at Montverde Academy, allowed students to share their presentations relating to this year’s topic: Hunger in America.  Congratulations to the victors – the 3^rd place winner was Matthew Tollini, 2^nd place was Kendyl Cardwell, and 1^st place was a tie shared by Bella Crider and Tyler Fricker.

It’s been comprehensively documented that food insecurity and poverty in the United States – especially with individuals and families experiencing unemployment and low assets – lead to a lack of access to adequate, nutritious food.  According to the website of speech contest sponsor Modern Woodmen of America School, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that “… 48.1 million people lived in food-insecure households in 2013. This means that at some points during the year, their households were uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, enough food because of insufficient resources. Approximately 8.6 million of these individuals were children. Students are asked to explore this issue of hunger in America from an individual, local, state or national perspective.”

Montverde Academy MS students who competed in the speech contest were given an opportunity to demonstrate their public speaking skills and offer their unique perspectives on the plight of hunger in the United States. Modern Woodmen’s School Speech Contest is one of many free Youth Educational Programs Modern Woodmen offers to schools nationwide. More than 100,000 students compete in the contest each year. Founded in 1883 as a fraternal benefit society, Modern Woodmen of America offers financial services and fraternal member benefits to individuals and families throughout the United States.

The 2016 Middle School Speech Contest finalists were:

8^th Graders

Judy Hassanein

Jesse Jones

Molly Smith

Noah Tatlonghari

7^th Graders

Kendyl Cardwell

Bella Crider

Aidan Fracker

Alia Rodriguez

6^th Graders

Sam Boardman

Ashley Conklin

Tyler Fricker

Matthew Tollini

L to R: Kendyl Cardwell 2nd Place Tyler Fricker & Bella Crider Tied for 1st place Matthew Tollini 3rd place

The Montverde Academy Boys’ Varsity Tennis team are the 2016 Class 2A Region 3 FHSAA Boys Tennis Champions! The Eagles won their Florida Regional competition yesterday (Thursday, April 7, 2016) at the MVA Sports Complex Tennis Courts – and will now prepare to compete in State competition!  The Eagles finished the day by winning 4-1 after singles and did not need to play doubles.  MVA won singles line 1 by 6-0, 6-0, singles line 2 by 6-2, 6-1, singles line 3 by 6-0, 6-0, singles line 4 by 6-1, 6-3, and lost line 6 4-6, 6-7.

According to MVA’s Communications Office, it’s the first time Montverde Academy has ever reached the state championship with a boys’ varsity tennis team.  But more importantly, this year’s boys’ team was focused and strongminded in meeting their goals and objectives. “The most important thing is that the team played the whole season with determination and discipline, which we were able to bring to today’s match to defeat the State runner up from last year.  We played well and we reached one of our goals, and now we are going strong to reach our next one – which is to do well on the State Championships,” said MVA Varsity Tennis Head Coach Jaime Oncins.

State competitions begin this Monday, April 11^th and run through Wednesday April 13^th at Red Bug Lake Park – located in the Casselberry/Winter Springs area flanking Red Bug Elementary School (off Red Bug Lake Road).  For up-to-date information on weather conditions and park information, please call (407) 665-PARK (7275).

 GO EAGLES!

Montverde Academy’s Middle School National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) held another successful “Spring Cereal Food Drive” to support the Lake County, Florida, charitable organization Buses ‘n Backpacks.  Mrs. Sara Stelle-Parets, MVA Middle School 6^th grade teacher, informed the Montverde Academy Communications Office that throughout last month the NJHS collected 451 boxes of cereal that were eventually donated and sent home with area students living in insufficient-food households.

According to their website, Buses n’ Backpacks of Clermont, Florida, feeds children “…who are afflicted by poverty and homelessness.” The organization works with 16 local schools, “serving 500 children each week.” Donations collected by MVA students will feed students who are unable to access a healthy school breakfast and lunch.  Many of our regional families face the reality of missing meals or not having enough food for balanced nutrition. Often these families have to choose between paying rent and buying food.  Buses n’ Backpacks operates to alleviate the anxiety and stress associated with hunger – and allows those enduring hunger to maintain their hope and dignity.

Congratulations to Montverde Academy seniors Andrea Rodriquez and Nathalia Da Silva who’ve both been invited to train and participate with their respective U20 National teams!  Montverde Academy senior Nathalia Da Silva was invited to join the Brazilian U-20 National Team.  Da Silva, possibly one of the top players in the country for high school girls soccer, is currently participating in a training camp with the Brazilian team. Last season as a Lady Eagle Girls’ Varsity Soccer player, she scored 34 goals and added 14 assists.  “I’m extremely proud of Nathalia and excited for the opportunity she deserves.  This is her 3^rd year at the academy and I feel she has grown tremendously as a player, we wish her the best of luck in the camp,” said MVA Lady Eagles Varsity Head Coach Robbie Aristodemo.

Similarly, Andrea Rodriquez, another senior Lady Eagles Girls’ Varsity Soccer player, has also been invited to participate on the U20 National Team Camp for Mexico April 10-17^th.  Andrea has committed to Northwestern State and has been an integral part of the Lady Eagles Soccer success over the past two years. “Another great opportunity for one of our players – to be noticed by the national team is a great honor and we hope Andrea can take full advantage of what lies ahead, we are super proud of both players,” added Coach Aristodemo.

 Natalie training with 2016 Brazilian U-20 National Team.

Andrea Rodriquez in preparation with the U20 National Team Camp of Mexico.

Congratulations to the Montverde Academy Theatre students who swept their recent competition with ”A+” rankings at the state level!  The Florida State International Thespian Festival, held in Tampa, Florida, earlier this month, is both a competition and a celebration of student achievement in the theatrical arts.  The ITS Festival showcased high school performances and a wealth of learning opportunities for students in workshops and master classes.  All of the MVA students earned superiors, the highest rating available.

According to Mr. Adrien Wright-Ahern, Theatre Arts teacher, every spring high school thespians bring their “love of all things theatre” to the Florida State International Thespian Festival. Organized by the Educational Theatre Association, the event is the largest ITS festival in the country.  It is a one-of-a-kind, immersion experience in acting, singing, dancing, designing, directing, and writing.  Besides the competition aspect, the festival also features workshops presented by theatre professionals, individual and group performances, programs for technical theatre students, and opportunities to audition for college admission and scholarships.

FAME (The Florida Association for Media in Education) is the annual sponsor of the SSYRA (Sunshine State Young Reader’s Award).  The competition centers on fifteen books selected each spring to be read for the following school year.  During the school year, students are encouraged to read all fifteen titles.  MVA Lower School students were recently honored with certificates for the progress they made in this year’s reading challenge.

At the Montverde Academy Lower School Library, Mrs. Pat Hines, Media Specialist, directed a MVA SSYRA program with her fifth graders.  She challenged them to read as many of the books as possible. The program ran from the beginning of the school year until the first week in April.  Those who read three books meet the state criteria to vote on their favorite book.

Mrs. Hines had nineteen students vote this year, and the title these students liked the best was Nerd Camp by Eilssa Weissman.  The state-wide winner will be announced in the next few weeks.  The students honored at a recent Morning Academy Assembly who read at least seven books or more.  Those students were  honored at a Sunshine Ice Cream Party following school April 12th.  Of the eleven students, six received trophies for completing the challenge and reading all fifteen books. Those students are: Trevor Turnquist, Ryan LeBreux, Sienna Pompeo, Allyson Sweeney, Srishti Tandon, and Reagan Triolo.

In the picture, the students are as follows, from left to right: Nicholas Cecchi, Lincoln Baptiste, Ryan LeBreux, Aryan Patel, Sienna Pompeo, Shaylan Ramlall, Mazin Sadek, Allyson Sweeney, Srishti Tandon, and Trevor Turnquist. Reagan Triolo was absent the morning the photo was taken).  Mrs. Hines is in back.

With an impressive number of informative guest lecturers visiting our campus this school year, it’s been an especially enriching semester for Montverde Academy Upper School students enrolled in the Business and Financial Management (BFM) Study Area Concentration Concentration (SAC) program.  Last week, students participated in an interactive lecture and discussion with local attorney and sports agent, Mr.  Bret Jones.  Mr. Jones is a practicing attorney specializing in contract and business law.

Montverde Academy BFM students, under the direction of Mr. Lance Walsworth, Upper School Economics teacher, asked Mr. Jones a variety of questions relating to the nature of business formation, contract specificity, and the general importance of knowing the path one would want their business or endeavor to take when making an agreement or signing a contract.

During his presentation, Mr. Jones provided students with specific examples and personal experience answers to their questions.  In addition, he discussed the importance of maintaining high standards for one’s self and in the value of putting in hard work and effort to achieve success. Mr. Jones is the forth community participant in the group’s lecture and discussion series. The series is scheduled to conclude next month with a discussion led by South Lake Hospital President John Moore on the topic of corporate management.

The Montverde Academy academic experience includes participation in various activities (fine arts, athletics, clubs, and volunteer service organizations) that facilitate and inspire students to achieve excellence as they develop their individual talents and abilities.  Choir scholarship – and the art of training to sing with other vocalists – has become a very popular pursuit for many MVA students.  Because of the continued interest in vocal arts, as well as the growth of our school and music conservatory, it has become challenging to accommodate all of our boarding students, faculty, and family inside the auditorium for only one annual choral concert.

According to Mr. Aubrey Connelly-Candelario, Montverde Academy Fine Arts Chair, the choral department is trying something new: For everyone’s comfort, the annual spring choral concert (this year’s theme is “Choral Cabaret”) will be held twice this year.  The first date is Tuesday, April 26^th 7:00 p.m. inside the Sandra O. Stephens Fine Arts Auditorium for faculty and family only.  Montverde Academy will have its 2^nd concert, our traditional choral concert, on Wednesday, April 27^th at 7:00 p.m.

The Tuesday night performance will include some extra bonuses like a free dessert bar and VIP seating. To prepare properly for the event, Montverde Academy is seeking an accurate count of how many will be attending.  So, if you would like to reserve seats, please email Mr. Connelly-Candelario directly HERE with the number of people expected in your party.  Timely reservations will allow the fine arts department to prepare accordingly.  Both concerts are FREE and open to the entire MVA community.

On Friday, April 15, 2016, eight students from the Montverde Academy Mathematics Club successfully competed in the 2016 Mathlympics.  Mathlympics is an annual event held at Lake Sumter State College.  Several schools were represented (with either one or two teams) in the competition: Mount Dora High School, Leesburg High School, Lake Minneola High School, Montverde Academy, Umatilla High School, South Sumter High School, Tavares High School, South Lake High School, The Villages High School, Mount Dora Christian Home and Bible School, East Ridge High School and Wildwood High School.

At the end of the competition, and after earning 316 points and winning 1^st place, was Montverde Academy’s Team B consisting of Jiahui (Laurent) Wu, Cheng Cai, Weijie (James) Chen, and Haoyang (Eric) Chen.   Also notable, Montverde Academy’s  Team A received 311 points and took 2^nd Place with members Tianqi (Jimmy) Wei, Xuchuxue (Irisa) Zhou, Jude Kinkead, and Xintong (Dylan) Deng.  LSSC rules state that a school cannot receive more than one award, so only Team B was recognized. 

The mission of Montverde Academy’s Math Club is to promote enthusiasm and interest in mathematics at the Academy.  Throughout the school year, the team prepares for a national math contests that are held six times – as well as the annual team competition hosted by Lake-Sumter Community College. 

Ms. Candace Dietrich, MVA Upper School Mathematics Department Chair, and a Math Club adviser, recently informed Montverde Academy’s Communications Office, “It is often difficult to decide on just eight students to represent the school in the LSSC Mathlympics contest each year.  This year was extremely difficult.  It is truly such a pleasure to work with bright, hardworking, young ladies and gentlemen throughout the year, and we appreciate everyone’s participation in the math club.”

2015-2016 Montverde Academy Math Club members