Porterville College Math Battle Expands, Ignites Passion for STEM

This year's Porterville College Math Battle reached new heights, transforming into a two-day extravaganza that welcomed students from local middle and high schools, marking its largest competition yet. Coordinated by the PC Math Division, the event, traditionally a high school competition, expanded to include middle schools this year, effectively doubling its size and impact.

The Math Battle is more than just a competition. It provides a unique and engaging experience for local students. Participants tackled complex math problems, both individually and in teams, under time constraints, fostering critical thinking and collaborative skills. The format, featuring 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, and 2-minute rounds, challenged students to think quickly and creatively.

Each team competed in individual and team rounds, with scores based on accuracy, speed, and the uniqueness of their solutions.

Monache High School emerged as the overall winning school on the first day of competition, with their "Kiss My Axis" team, consisting of Ethan Born, Aaryan Hirani, Juan Rodriguez, and Elijah Velarde, taking the top spot. Individual and team round winners received medals, and the winning school earned the 2025 Math Battle Trophy.

PC Math faculty, led by Dr. Sherie Burgess and Professor Ian Onizawa, played a crucial role in scoring and facilitating the event. Dr. Burgess expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership opportunities the Math Battle provides, stating, “We are grateful for the opportunity to host such a fun event for our local middle and high school STEM students. It was an amazing way to have fun and interact with our school partner faculty. Thanks to funding provided by the CAPP grant, we have been able to work more cohesively together as partners.”

Students shared their positive experiences, with many highlighting the engaging and challenging nature of the competition. Jocelyn Carranza from Monache noted, “The title is misleading, and people often dislike math, but this event has been very fun and a good challenge.”

The event also provided valuable learning opportunities for students in other disciplines. Monache’s Multimedia and Technology Academy students, under the guidance of Video Production Teacher Bobby Styles, filmed the Math Battle, gaining hands-on experience in video production and interviewing.

The Math Battle’s expansion to include middle schools on the second day further emphasized Porterville College's commitment to fostering STEM education in the community. As Alexander Ledesma, a Porterville sophomore, put it, “You get math with real life problems, and you get to hang out with people like you.”

The success of the 2025 Math Battle underscores its importance as a platform for students to showcase their mathematical abilities, collaborate with peers, and engage with college faculty, solidifying Porterville College’s role in promoting STEM education in the region.