The Apache Junction Unified School District recently hosted its first math bee, showcasing the mathematical talents of students from Desert Vista Elementary School, Peralta Trail Elementary School and Four Peaks Elementary School.

Organized and spearheaded by AJUSD Mathematics Instructional Coach Kathleen Donlan, the math bee on May 7 brought together young mathematicians in a friendly yet competitive environment at the Apache Junction High School Performing Arts Center, according to a release.

Superintendent Robert Pappalardo emphasized the importance of the math bee.

“Events such as this demonstrate our dedication to igniting a passion for mathematics within our students. We want them to love it from the get-go, setting them up for big wins academically,” he said in the release.

“Seeing these kids dive into math with such passion is amazing. Events like this help them see math in a positive light and feel confident about it early on,” Donlan said in the release.

The math bee saw spirited participation from students who showcased their mathematical prowess through various rounds of problem-solving challenges. The winners of the inaugural math bee are:

Third grade

• Individual winners: First place, Jessica Tucker (Peralta Trail Elementary) with a perfect score; tied for second place, Aiden Rossilillo (Peralta Trail Elementary), Nathan De La Cruz Fuentes (Four Peaks Elementary) and Emmy Woody (Peralta Trail Elementary); and tied for third place, Elijah Gomez Castro (Four Peaks Elementary), Chris Lopez (Desert Vista Elementary), Lillie Norton (Peralta Trail Elementary), Strider Farnsworth (Four Peaks Elementary), Cashton Trisoliere (Four Peaks Elementary) and Keelyn Ennis (Desert Vista Elementary)
• Team Winner of the traveling trophy — Peralta Trail Elementary

Fourth grade

• Individual winners: First place, Isaiah Acosta (Peralta Trail Elementary) with a perfect score; second place, Nico Sears (Peralta Trail Elementary); and tied for third place, Owen Fellows (Peralta Trail Elementary), Jackson Mulvey (Peralta Trail Elementary) and Denver Martin (Four Peaks Elementary)
• Team winner of the traveling trophy — Peralta Trail Elementary

Fifth grade

• Individual winners: First place, Angie Rojas (Four Peaks Elementary) with a perfect score; tied for second place, Alison Shook (Peralta Trail Elementary), Adyn McNally (Peralta Trail Elementary) and Keith Lee (Desert Vista Elementary); and tied for third place, Alma Torres (Four Peaks Elementary) and Alan Gonzalez (Peralta Trail Elementary)

Through this initiative, AJUSD aims to nurture a culture where students not only excel in math but also find joy and fulfillment in the subject, setting a solid foundation for their educational journey ahead, the release states.