(May 30, 2025) More than 200 students from across the Rochester City School District gathered at Virgil I. Grissom School No. 7 for the District’s annual math competition, a much-anticipated event that celebrates academic achievement through engaging, game-based learning.
At the heart of the competition is the 24® Game, a fast-paced strategic challenge in which students must manipulate four numbers using addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division to arrive at the number 24. Each number must be used exactly once, with no repetitions – putting students’ mental math and logic skills to the test.
“Students are learning math in a fun and enlightening way,” said Demario Strickland, Interim Superintendent of Schools. “What better way to learn than by playing a game, rather than a worksheet, which does not necessarily show if a student has mastered the material.”
A special highlight of the event was a virtual visit from Robert Sun, Chairman, President, and CEO of Suntex International, and creator of the 24® Game. Sun, whose educational games have reached more than 10 million students worldwide over the past 30 years, offered words of encouragement to students and praised their enthusiasm for learning.
Three standout fourth-grade students from The Children’s School of Rochester No. 15, Nurto Mberwa, Sofia Savchyn, and Paul McIntyre, not only participated in the Districtwide event but also advanced to the statewide math competition in Albany, scheduled for Saturday, May 31. The trio qualified by competing in a regional championship in March, where Nurto and Sofia delivered an especially memorable performance.
In an extraordinary show of sportsmanship, Nurto and Sofia tied for first place and initially asked if they could share the title. While their gesture reflected true team spirit, competition rules required a playoff round to determine the winner. Both students embraced the moment with grace, making it a memorable highlight.
“Giving students a voice and empowering them to have a say in their educational goals holds them accountable for their learning,” said Matt Glover, the students’ math teacher at School No. 15. “These three students love playing 1st in Math and playing Math 24! I am extremely proud of them for what they have accomplished.”
This marks the third consecutive year that students from the RCSD have earned the opportunity to compete at the statewide level. This year in Albany, students will play Factor Wheels, a game designed to enhance students’ understanding of factors, multiplication, and division. Players are tasked with placing four numbers into a circular arrangement (a “wheel”) such that all numbers share a common factor.
