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.

September

Nikole Solano

- @BASDMrsSolano

Kindergarten Teacher, Spring Garden Elementary School Bethlehem Area School District, Bethlehem, PA

2023

May

Sarah Orsi

- @MrsOrsi

3rd Grade Educator, G. A. Jackson Elementary School Jericho Union Free School District, Jericho, NY

2023

April

Jennifer Campbell

- @MissCampbell__

3rd Grade ELA Teacher at Whitman Elementary School Washington Township Public Schools, Turnersville, NJ

2023

March

Noelle Rogers

- @MrsRogers1204

4th Grade Teacher, James A. Dever Elementary School Valley Stream 13 School District, Valley Stream, NY

2023

February

Kristin Sym

- @MrsSymAACPS

5th Grade Teacher, Ridgeway Elementary School Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Severn, MD

2023

December

Christine Steigerwalt

- @Math6teacher1

6th Grade Math Teacher, Easton Area Middle School Easton Area School District, Easton, PA

2022

November

Eric Stover

- @cs_stover

Computer Science Teacher, Franconia Elementary School Souderton Area School District, Souderton, PA

2022

October

Kelly O'Connell

- @kellyaoconnell

Principal, Mars Estates Elementary School Baltimore County Public Schools, Essex, MD

2022

September

Kelly Sabelhaus

- @MrsSabelhausGBP

1st Grade Teacher, Glen Burnie Park Elementary School Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Glen Burnie, MD

2022

May

Jenn Taylor

- @CBE_MrsTaylor

5th Grade Teacher, Clara Barton Elementary School Cherry Hill Public Schools, Cherry Hill, NJ

2022

April

Kristy Wied

- @MrsWiedsClasses

4th Grade Teacher, Salisbury Elementary School Salisbury Township School District, Allentown, PA

2022

March

Tom Fabian

- @PrincipalEES

Principal, Eastport Elementary School Eastport-South Manor Central School District, NY

2022

Dr. Lola J. May Award

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

2020

David Leith

David Leith is deeply honored to be recognized with the Lola J. May Award. The 20-year veteran of the classroom teaches at Theiss Elementary, Klein ISD in Texas. “I wanted to learn all the games so that I could be a role model, and I got hooked on the learning experience right along with my students. I am especially enthused by how FIM enables so many students to meaningfully learn and apply math above their grade level expectations.

Silver Medal

Carol A. Lauck St. Nicholas School, Allentown Diocese, PA

Bronze Medal

Stephanie Boyd Abbeville Elementary, Henry County SD, AL

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.