By Deb Risden
Five Liberty Tree Academy gifted and talented students from El Paso County School District 49 attended the 2025 Math League National competition held at the University of Houston in Texas on June 14.
Three of the five are fifth graders; two are third graders. There were a total of 337 students from 27 states competing in the elementary level competition.
LTA’s Math Club students were invited to compete at the national competition after winning their state championship.
The top 10 performers in each grade level at the national competition are invited to the international competition in Bali, Indonesia in July. LTA’s students did not score high enough to be invited to the international competition. Mary Tafoya, LTA’s math intervention coach, said, “Although our students didn’t place for the top 10 awards at their grade level, their goals for the 2026 nationals couldn’t be more motivating. We are proud of their first year achievements.”
Liberty Tree Academy’s Math Club ended their inaugural year by scoring high enough to compete at the national championship at the University of Houston in Texas: left to right, Gabrielle McCollum, grade five; Precious Alande, grade three; David Akande, grade five; Theo Jacobson, grade three; Cara Ballard, grade five; and Mary Tafoya, math intervention coach.
