The first-ever SHARP Minds Math Challenge, sponsored by SHARP Electronics and Allen Business Machines, was held at Madison Elementary School Oct. 3 involving the entire third-, fourth- and fifth-grade classes.
This contest was part of the national promotion by SHARP Electronics and its National Dealer Network to create interest in math using the new Elsimate EL-S25 Calculator with flash-card memory for math drills. ABM purchased the calculators for each student, and SHARP Electronics provided each grade level championship winner at Madison with a $50 dollar Discover Card to shop at the Discover Store, and each grade with a $100 credit card to hold a party celebrating the SMMC contest.
Michael Kite, the area ABM and SHARP Electronics representative, attended a Madison Elementary Celebration Day Oct. 31 and presented the prizes to the winning students as well as their classes.
"The student body did not know that prizes were to be awarded," said Kite, "and the winners were surprised and very pleased to receive the honors. The high level of enthusiasm and participation surpassed everyone's expectations."
Jeff Neumann, principal at Madison, said, "This calculator is one of the new learning tools for the digital generation and it made kids excited to study math. Kids who would not touch a flash-card or a regular calculator were using this in the practice math drill rounds held before the contest and they were having fun while learning."
Steve Stichter, assistant business manager with Warsaw Community Schools, was in attendance and said, "The children's enthusiasm over receiving the calculators was truly genuine, and what Principal Neumann stated speaks volumes about the validity of this contest and its success."
The winners were: third grade, TJ Day; fourth grade, Tiayana Blair; and fifth grade, Allison Hill.
