Champions
of Math

Join us in celebrating the people who make First in Math special

Hall of Fame

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An annual award given to the #1 Player First in Math player across all grades!

Justin O'Shea

Justin O'Shea is the #1 Player, All Grades, in the First In Math® Online Program for the 2019-2020 school year—exactly ten years after his brother won the title in 2010! A student at St. Pius X School in Philadelphia, Justin earned the Grand Prize and National All Star award, climbing to the top in a dramatic last-minute surge. His strategy focused on consistency, playing most days rather than daily. Beyond math, Justin captained his school’s Reading Olympics team, enjoys American history, and loves basketball, soccer, and trips to the Jersey Shore. First In Math creator Robert Sun praises his dedication, highlighting the Archdiocese’s decade-long tradition of excellence in the program.

Honorable Mentions

Players

Justin O'Shea (PA) - Champion Rishi Patel (TX) John Nguyen (MA) Temidire Tanimowo (TX) Matan Fox (PA) James McCusker (PA) Luca Merkle (PA) Alexsandro Trantalis (PA) Daniel Z. Lao (PA) Jiana Maxine A. Ramos (NV

Team Leaders

Denise Laudenslager (PA) Anna Latch (PA) Ellen Latham (MA) Nicole Smith (GA) Stephanie Sillo (PA) Givon Ellison (PA) David Siegfried (PA) Phyllis Elder (GA) Shaw Collier (PA) Regina Baker (PA)

Schools

Shawnee Elementary School (PA) Notre Dame de Lourdes School (PA) Anne Frank School (PA) O'Bryant Sch. Math & Science (MA) St. Frances de Sales School (PA) St. Anthony-Padua Regional (PA) Spring Garden Elementary (PA) Easton Area Middle School (PA) Fort Washington Elementary (PA) St. Didacus School (CA)

Top Educator Players

David Leith (TX) Carol A Lauck (PA) Stephanie Boyd (AL) Alison Allen (FL) Phyliss Elder (GA) Mary Higgins (PA) Becky Kieffer (FL) Mickey Komins (PA) Brianna Ruleman (MD)

2020

Spirit in Education

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A monthly award given to an educator who has been actively talking about math achievement on social media channels.

December

Rachel DeCarlo

- @rachel_decarlo

4th grade LTS teacher, Maple Glen Elementary Upper Dublin School District, PA

2020

November

Melissa Walsh

- @PalmerPanthers1

Interventionist, Palmer Elementary School Easton Area School District, PA

2020

October

Sonia Batista

- @Ms_Batista5

Grade 3 Math Teacher, Oak Tree Road School Woodbridge Township School District, NJ

2020

September

Samantha Brown

- @MrsBrown

Grade 2 Math Teacher, Freetown ES Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD

2020

June

Shannon Ziemer

- @MDCityMath

Title 1 Math Teacher, Maryland City Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD

2020

May

Kathy Benton

- @KathyBenton72

Grade 3, Glendale Elementary School Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD

2020

April

Katie Gould

- @Gouldkm21

Math & Science Specialist, Mueller Elementary School Klein Independent School District, Spring, TX

2020

March

Jennifer Gleason

- @cmespds

Grade 3 Teacher, Crofton Meadows Elementary School Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Crofton, MD

2020

February

Allison Joy Russell

- @joy2teachem

2nd Grade Teacher, Honey Creek Elementary School Rockdale County Public Schools, Conyers, GA

2020

January

Domenick Renzi

- @mustang_math

BSI math Teacher, Wedgwood Elementary School Washington Township Public Schools, Sewell, NJ

2020

December

Kimberly O'Neal

- @kloneal2

District Coordinator Klein Independent School District, Klein, TX

2019

November

Greg DeStasio

- @MrDeStasioFB

Grade 5 Teacher Freemansburg Elementary School Bethlehem Area School District, Freemansburg, PA

2019

Dr. Lola J. May Award

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An annual award given to educators who exemplify Lola's spirit.

2023

Jeff Markham

A teacher at Clearview ES in the Bethlehem Area SD for 20+ years, Jeff Markham is the 2023 recipient of the Dr. Lola J. May Award. "I have always enjoyed using First in Math for everything from enrichment to support. It is a wonderful complement to the curriculum and allows my students to practice skills in a fun & engaging way. This year our students ranked 9th in the nation! I am so proud of them!"

Silver Medal

Robert Beck Hiland Park ES, Bay County SD, FL

Bronze Medal

Mary Higgins St. Laurence School, Archdiocese of Philadelphia, PA

About Dr. May

Dr. Lola J. May (1923-2007) was a noted mathematics educator, consultant, author and producer of audio-visual materials. A pioneer in mathematics education and an early proponent of the new math educational process, May was beloved by her students, and became a household name among mathematics educators.