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!
Hannah Sonsalla dominated the 2007 First In Math® season, holding the #1 rank, all grades, for months and earning a record-breaking 24,408 Stickers—nearly 1,000 more than her closest competitor. A fifth-grader at Sandhill School in Stoughton, Wisconsin, she excels in academic competitions, including Knowledge Masters and 24 Challenge®. Known for her lightning-fast 24® game skills, she swept district and county tournaments with ease. Beyond math, Hannah stays active in 4-H, piano, and Girl Scouts, balancing a wide range of interests with her impressive academic achievements.
Players
Ao Kong (PA) Valentino Papa (PA) Ryan Watson (NY) Josh Dean (WV) Jacob Barthels (WI)
Team Leaders
Ed Butler (NJ) Laura Borsecnik (WI) Kimberly Johnson (FL) Yvonne Matherson (NY) Michelle Dawson (WI) Lauris Heinzel (IA) David Mathews (PA) Cheryl Moyer (PA) Lisa Weingartner (FL) Pauline Watson (FL) Sheri Galbreath (CA) Karen Moroney (NY) Margaret O'Connor (NY) Colleen Armor (PA)
Schools
Parker Annex ES (NJ) Northmont ES (CA) OLMBS School (PA) Fitler Academics (PA) Matewan MS (WV) Anne Frank ES (PA) Pollock ES (PA) Francis March MS (PA) Creston MS (IA) St. Benedict School (IA) Fleetwood ES (NY) Oakridge ES (FL) Sandhill School (WI) Orchard MS (OH) Conwell MS (PA) Wilson MS (PA) St. Thomas Aquinas (PA) Leeds MS (PA) Manatee Bay ES (FL) Sheboygan Falls ES (WI)
Top Educator Players
2007
A monthly award given to an educator who has been actively talking about math achievement on social media channels.
November
Title I Math Resource Teacher, Glen Burnie Park Elementary Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD
2023
October
Math Coach, Garden City Primary Buildings Garden City School District, Garden City, NY
2023
October
Gifted Education Teacher, Willow Lane Elementary School East Penn School District, Emmaus, PA
2023
September
Kindergarten Teacher, Spring Garden Elementary School Bethlehem Area School District, Bethlehem, PA
2023
May
3rd Grade Educator, G. A. Jackson Elementary School Jericho Union Free School District, Jericho, NY
2023
April
3rd Grade ELA Teacher at Whitman Elementary School Washington Township Public Schools, Turnersville, NJ
2023
March
4th Grade Teacher, James A. Dever Elementary School Valley Stream 13 School District, Valley Stream, NY
2023
February
5th Grade Teacher, Ridgeway Elementary School Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Severn, MD
2023
December
6th Grade Math Teacher, Easton Area Middle School Easton Area School District, Easton, PA
2022
November
Computer Science Teacher, Franconia Elementary School Souderton Area School District, Souderton, PA
2022
October
Principal, Mars Estates Elementary School Baltimore County Public Schools, Essex, MD
2022
September
1st Grade Teacher, Glen Burnie Park Elementary School Anne Arundel County Public Schools, Glen Burnie, MD
2022
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.
