CHS students score high in MC Science and Math Tournament
CLINTON — Students at Clinton High School earned first place in the annual Science and Math Tournament held Thursday at Mississippi College, and ninth-grade students at Sumner Hill won first in the Quiz Bowl in their division on Friday.
“This is a two-day tournament and there are winners each day,” said Ann Kyzar, teacher at CHS. “Each student takes two tests in the morning, and individual awards are given to students for scoring in the top percentiles in their subject area.”
The scores of all the students from each school are added, and schools can win or place in the overall competition based on the scores of the tests the students took.
CHS was first overall on the morning tests and first place in Quiz Bowl in their division on Thursday.
Sumner Hill was first place in Quiz Bowl on Friday, and placed ninth overall in their division, “which is remarkable for being ninth-graders,” Kyzar said.
“This is a statewide competition,” said Lynda Collins, teacher at Sumner Hill. “Our team competed against 55 other schools, about 550 students, made up of ninth through 12th-graders.”
Four students from each school compete as a team in the Quiz Bowl event. There are three divisions, and Sumner Hill is in Division 3 and CHS is in Division 1. Division 1 schools are the bigger high schools that offer AP courses and physics.
The Sumner Hill quiz bowl team, made up of Shawn Gompa, Conner Graham, Arthi Reddy and Sajal Tiwary, finished in first place in its division on Friday. Other high scorers include:
• Math
Top 20% - Bryan Lagrone, Shawn Gompa, Sajal Tiwary, Arthi Reddy
Top 10% - Conner Graham
• Physics
Top 20% - Conner Graham
• Biology
Top 20% - John Suedel
Top 10% - Shawn Gompa, Arthi Reddy
Top 2 % - Sajal Tiwary
Clinton High School students also fared well; teacher Renee Smith said the extent of the team’s success was a first for CHS.
“We placed first in the quiz bowl competition and first in the team competition,” she said. The high school competition was Thursday.
CHS Quiz Bowl members include Alex Amis, Andrew Amis, Thaige Gompa and Stephen Leavelle.
Other top scorers include:
• Biology
Top 10% - Amit Bajaj, Angie Rao
Top 3% - Stephen Leavelle
• Chemistry
Top 20% - Anna Bolton, Anusha Chinthaparthi, Harman Kaur, Beth Ann McCormick
Top 10% - Alex Amis, Amit Bajaj, Garrett DeYoung, Andrew Lewis
Top 3% - Thaige Gompa
Top 2% - Andrew Amis
• Math
Top 10% - Andrew Amis, Anna Bolton, Anusha Chinthaparthi, Stephen Leavelle, Beth Ann McCormick
Top 3% - Andrew Lewis
Top 1% - Alex Amis, Thaige Gompa, Angie Rao
MC awards scholarship money to students who earn in the top 20 percent and above on these competitions, ranging from $300 up to $2,000 per year.
“These competitions are a great opportunity for our students to see where they stand academically against their peers in other school districts,” said Dr. Phil Burchfield, superintendent. “It’s wonderful to see that our students did so well. This speaks highly of these outstanding students, as well as the quality of education they’ve received in Clinton.”
Front row: Arthi Reddy, Brandice Palmer, Audrey Anne Estess, Hunter Mason, Kelsey Hillhouse, Bryan Lagrone, Callen DeYoung
Back row: John Suedel, Jeremiah Forsythe, Conner Graham, Shawn Gompa, Sajal Tiwary
