COVINA, CA – Sierra Vista Middle School students represented Covina-Valley Unified at the Lone Hill Math Competition on Jan. 24, demonstrating resilience, teamwork, and strong mathematical skills. Competing against five other local schools, the Sierra Vista sixth-grade team earned first place overall, while the seventh-grade team secured third.

Each team consisted of four students who volunteered through the Sierra Vista Math Club. Students competed in both individual and team-based rounds, tackling advanced math problems that tested critical thinking, collaboration, and speed.

In addition to the team’s success, sixth-grader Martin Liang earned first place in the individual sixth-grade competition, finishing as the top overall performer at that grade level.

“It meant a lot to me to place first in both the individual and team competition, and it makes me really happy that I succeeded in doing something really tough,” Liang said. “I wanted to help our school earn some prizes and see how good I am at math under pressure.”

Sierra Vista’s seventh-grade team also delivered an impressive performance, placing among the top competitors in their division.

“I wanted to be part of the Lone Hill Math Competition both to test my math skills and have fun with my friends,” seventh-grader David Hsiung said. “My favorite thing about math is that basically everything has a formula. Instead of having to figure out problems on your own, you can trust a formula to give you the right answer.”

The competition marked Sierra Vista’s return to the Lone Hill Math Competition after several years, a milestone that Math Club coach Keilley Meng said reflects both student enthusiasm and academic pride.

The Sierra Vista teams will represent Covina-Valley Unified at the Los Angeles County math competition in April.

“The success of our Sierra Vista students reflects the District’s ongoing commitment to academic excellence and to creating opportunities where students can thrive in STEM,” Interim Superintendent Dr. Jonathan Blackmore said. “We are incredibly proud of their hard work and determination.”

PHOTO CAPTIONS:

CVUSD_LONEHILL1: Sierra Vista Middle School sixth-grade students earned first place overall at the Lone Hill Math Competition on Jan. 24, showcasing strong mathematical skills.

CVUSD_STEM2: Sierra Vista Middle School seventh-grade students secured third place at the Lone Hill Math Competition on Jan. 24.