Join us in celebrating the people who make First in Math special.
An annual award given to the #1 Player First in Math player across all grades!
Temidire Tanimowo is the #1 Player, All Grades, in the First In Math® Online Program for the 2020-2021 school year! A fourth grader at Mueller Elementary in Texas, he is only the second fourth-grader to win the Grand Prize and a repeat First In Math National All Star. After placing #4 as a third-grader, Temidire set a clear goal and executed a winning strategy—tackling the hardest games first and maintaining a strong lead. First In Math creator Robert Sun praises his achievement, noting that he completed all 240+ games, solved over 240,000 problems, and dedicated 700 hours to his success. An avid learner, Temidire also enjoys chess, tennis, and trivia games, as well as spending time with his biggest fan—his younger brother, Jikore.
Players
Temidire Tanimowo (TX) Doron Fox (PA) Matan Fox (PA) Mark Chentsov-Kalish (PA) James McCusker (PA) Tucker Johnston (GA) Luca Merkle (PA) Jayden XU (GA) Victor Nikolaev (NJ)
Team Leaders
Nicole Purdy (PA) Anna Latch (PA) Brian Dougans (PA) Stephanie Sillo (PA) Denise Laudenslager (PA) Stephanie Sillo (PA) Phyliss Elder (GA) Mary Higgins (PA) Erin McCormick (PA) Tarabeth McFadden (PA)
Schools
St. Francis de Sales School (PA) Anne Frank School (PA) Notre Dame de Lourdes School (PA) Chesterbrook Academy West Chester (PA) Shawnee Elementary School (PA) O’Bryant School of Math & Science (MA) Reiffton School (PA) Spring Garden Elementary School (PA) St. Laurence School (PA) St. Anthony-Padua Regional Catholic School (PA)
Top Educator Players
David Leith (TX) Alison Allen (FL) Mary Higgins (PA) Phyliss Elder (GA) Robert Beck (FL) Mickey Komins (PA) M. Lisa Butchy (PA)
2021
A monthly award given to an educator who has been actively talking about math achievement on social media channels.
September
Grade 4 Teacher, Towne Meadow Elementary School Carmel Clay School District, Carmel, IN
2018
An annual award given to educators who exemplify Lola's spirit.
2026
Jeff Markham, a 5th-grade teacher at Clearview ES in the Bethlehem Area School District, is the 2026 recipient of the Dr. Lola J. May Award. A longtime First In Math user, Markham also received the award in 2025 and 2023. “I have really enjoyed playing First In Math this year. It was quite a competition among the educators, and there were times when I wasn’t sure I would win. The student competition was amazing as well and fun to watch. Over the years, my students and I have had a lot of fun playing and working together to strengthen our math skills. First In Math is a great program that is engaging and fun for my students. Good luck next year to all the students and educators playing First In Math!”
Silver Medal
Bronze Medal
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.
