Garden City first graders earn first place in First in Math championship
First graders Meghan Chan, Jacob Young and Thomas Coppola represented Locust School in Garden City at the 2025 First in Math New York Statewide Mathematics Championship, held on May 31 at the New York State Museum in Albany. The trio had earned their spot after advancing through the Virtual Regional Tournament on March 20, where only eight top teams from across the state were selected for the finals.
Leading up to the championship, the Locust School team practiced daily, honing their math fluency and strategic thinking. They focused on using four addends to make 10 from a given set of First in Math cards—an exercise that encouraged collaboration and problem-solving.
In addition to sharpening their math skills, the team also honed their public speaking and interview techniques in preparation to discuss their work with the judges.
Their dedication paid off: Locust School took first place in the first-grade division, marking an exciting achievement for the team.
The statewide event brought together 240 of New York’s top-performing math students in grades 1–8, with teams of three per grade level representing their schools and regions. First in Math promotes critical thinking, teamwork and a love for learning through engaging mathematical challenges.
Congratulations to Meghan, Jacob and Thomas.
