Knox College Wins 3rd Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition
Mrs. Ave Maria McIntosh, Head, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science and Sport presents the UTech, Jamaica 3rd Annual Mathematics Quiz Competition winner’s trophy to Knox College’s (l-r) Raheem Wilson, Ruth-Ann Blair and Niguel Walker, following the finals of the Competition on Thursday, November 28, 2019 at the University’s Papine Campus.
A nail-biting final match concluded with defending champions Knox College again lifting the crown at the 3rd annual University of Technology, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition held on Thursday, November 28, 2019 at the University’s Papine Campus. After consistently going head-to-head throughout the preliminary and lightening rounds, the champions from Surrey comprising Niguel Walker, Raheem Wilson and captain Ruth-Ann Blair secured the win over Campion College with a final score of 17 to Campion’s 16 points.
Mr. Patrick Williams, Vice Dean, FOSS presents the 2nd place trophy and cash prize to Campion College’s (l-r) Runako Gentles, Darshini Coore and Vivek Attupuram following the finals of the UTech, Jamaica 3rd Annual Mathematics Quiz Competition on Thursday, November 28, 2019.
The 30-minute final match was played in three exciting ‘Schools-Challenge’ style rounds with each team answering questions from the CSEC and CAPE Level 1 and 2 Mathematics curricula posed by Quiz Master, Miss Judith Delisser, Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Statistics. Both teams impressed with their quick responses showing burgeoning competency in such areas as trigonometry, complex numbers, functions, probability, polynomial and differential equations.
Miss Judith Delisser, (centre) Quiz Master and Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Statistics poses with (l-r) Runako Gentles, Darshini Coore and Vivek Attupuram of Campion College and Raheem Wilson, Ruth-Ann Blair and Niguel Walker of Knox College.
The winning school received a trophy and cash prize of $150,000, which was sponsored by CIBC First Caribbean International Bank, Bryan Studios Limited and NCB Foundation. The second place school also received a trophy and a cash prize of $100,000 from UTech, Jamaica and NCB Foundation. Gifts were also presented by sponsors NCB Foundation, H& L Ultimate Touch Promotions Limited, Bryan Studios Limited, Guardian Group, Ashley Furniture Home Store-Jamaica, Yello Media Group, Print Big and Lasco to the students and their Mathematics coaches. The 3rd annual Mathematics Quiz Competition began with the preliminary round comprising 25 high schools from across Jamaica on November 16, 2019. The two finalists emerged after a well-played semi-final round on November 27, 2019 with two matches which saw Immaculate Conception High compete against Knox College, ending with scores of 39 and 74 respectively and Campion College playing Manchester High, with Campion scoring 57 and Manchester High ending on 39 points.
Mr. Patrick Williams, Vice Dean, FOSS, in his greetings, congratulated Campion College and Knox College for advancing to the final round, and praised the other schools participating, noting “you are all warriors in the arena of Mathematics.” He also specially acknowledged the academic and administrative staff of the School of Mathematics and Statistics for their dedication and hard work as quiz masters, time keepers, scorekeepers and question writers, and the Physics Division of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences for the construction of the buzzers used in the final round.
Mrs. Ave Marie McIntosh, Head School of Mathematics and Statistics in giving a background to the competition, indicated that it had been conceptualized from an idea proposed by Professor Stephen Vasciannie, President, UTech, Ja. as part of the University thrust to increase interest and critical thinking skills in Mathematics to promote the importance and development of the subject as a tool for problem solving across disciplines. She congratulated the schools for taking such an avid interest in the competition and in Mathematics, and encouraged them to continue to strive for excellence.
Greetings were received from Mr Horace Donaldson, Regional Mathematics Coordinator, Region Three, Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. He noted that the Ministry was grateful that UTech, Jamaica is hosting a Mathematics competition that accords well with the Ministry thrust towards developing skills in the subject, indicating that many of the jobs of the future are heavily engaged in Mathematics.
Sponsors remarks were received from Mr. Douglas Cupidon, Director of Corporate Risk, Sovereign and Financial Institutions, CIBC First Caribbean International Bank, Mr. Derrick Upfield, Senior Sales Executive, H&L Ultimate Touch Promotions Limited and Mrs. Pamille Shaw-Blair, General Manager, Ashley Home Furniture Store.
The vote of thanks was moved by Mr Dennis Xavier, Division of Pure and Applied Mathematics, FOSS.
Rural School with the Highest Score: Mr. Leslie Young (left), Head of Division, Division of Statistics and Research Methodology presents Niguel Walker of Knox College with the trophy for the Rural School with the Highest Score in the Preliminary Round.
(L-r) Pierre Mannix, Chaneil Miller and Liam Datt of Hillel Academy display their certificates of participation following the final match of the UTech, Jamaica 3rd Annual Mathematics Quiz Competition on Thursday, November 28, 2019.
Sponsors Prizes
Mr. Derrick Upfield (left), Senior Sales Executive H&L Ultimate Ultimate Touch Promotions Limited presents a tote bag to Manchester High School coach Ms Mitizie Lake, while team members (l-r) Dwight Simpson, Janalisa Waugh and Kahlil Walker look on. Manchester High School tied with Immaculate Conception High School with 39 points for third place in the 3rd Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Competition.
Mrs. Pamille Shaw-Blair, General Manager, Ashley Home Furniture Store presents a gift certificate to Ms Khamica Jones, Mathematics coach, Campion College, while members of the team look on.
Ms. Anastasia Whyte (left), Agile Marketing Manager, NCB Foundation presents a gift certificate to champions Knox College, following the final match of the UTech, Jamaica 3rd Annual Mathematics Quiz Competition on Thursday, November 28, 2019.
Ms. Vanessa White (centre), Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Statistics presents a FOSS 10th Anniversary tote bag to Knox College Mathematics coach, Mr. Kenroy Carty, while his students look on, following the final match of the UTech, Jamaica 3rd Annual Mathematics Quiz Competition on Thursday, November 28, 2019.
Mrs. Lisa Bryan of Bryan Studios Limited presents a gift certificate to champions (l-r) Raheem Wilson, Ruth-Ann Blair and Niguel Walker.
Mrs. Marcia Erskine, representing CIBC First Caribbean International Bank presents a gift certificate to champions (l-r) Raheem Wilson, Ruth-Ann Blair and Niguel Walker.
Competition Judge, Ms Tessy Joy, Lecturer, FOSS, collects a trophy and gift basket from Mr. Dennis Xavier, Head, Division of Pure and Applied Mathematics, FOSS on behalf of Montego Bay High School for Girls which received the award for Most Improved Rural School in the Preliminary Round of the UTech, Jamaica 3rd Annual Mathematics Quiz Competition on Thursday, November 28, 2019.
End.
Contact:
Michelle Beckford (Mrs.)
Corporate Communications Manager
University of Technology, Jamaica
Telephone: 970-5299
Email: mbeckford@utech.edu.jm