Herbert Morrison Technical High School Wins 4th Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Competition

Professor Colin Gyles (centre) presents the winner’s trophy to Kaila Grant, team captain, Herbert Morrison Technical High School whose team emerged winner of the 4^th Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition at the final match played on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus. Team members and their teachers from left (front row) are Alyssa Dobson, Crystalee Gardner (Mathematics Coach), Jayden Brown, Ken-Garfield Douglas and (L-R, back row), Jehosha Brown, (Head, Mathematics Department), Herbert Morrison Technical High School and students Daniel Neil and Jemoy Jarrett. 

Mathematics brilliance was on display at the exciting finish of the 4^th Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition which saw both finalist student teams from Herbert Morrison Technical High School and St. Jago High, tying at 12 points after regulation match time.  But it was the brilliant response to the logic-based question, “What is the contrapositive for the statement: if water is frozen, then its temperature is below zero degrees Celsius?” answered correctly: “its temperature is not below zero degrees Celsius, then it is not frozen,” by  Jemoy Jarrett  of Herbert Morrison Technical High, that pipped the school’s win over St. Jago High in the knock out tie-breaker round played at the University of Technology, Jamaica Papine Campus on Thursday, December 15, 2022. 

The 30-minute final match was played in three thrilling ‘Schools-Challenge’ style rounds with each team answering questions from the CSEC and CAPE Level 1 and 2 Mathematics curricula posed by Quiz Master, Ms Judith DeLisser, Lecturer, School of Mathematics and Statistics (SOMAS), Faculty of Science and Sport, UTech, Jamaica. Both teams impressed with their quick responses, showing competency in such areas as trigonometry, complex numbers, functions, probability, polynomials, logic and differential equations. 

The three top schools received trophies, cash prizes and gifts in kind, provided through the support of sponsors CIBC First Caribbean International Bank, Bryan Studios Ltd, H& L Ultimate Touch Promotion and Bureau of Standards Jamaica. All participating students received a Certificate of Participation. 

Professor Colin Gyles, (right) Acting President, University of Technology, Jamaica presents St. Jago High School students, first runner up winners in the 4^th Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition with their trophy following the finals of the Competition on Thursday, December 15, 2022, at the UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus.  From left are Dshawan Dunwell, Linton Cornwall, (team captain) and Johmoi Blake.

The 4th UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition which had its inaugural staging in 2017 and has been on hiatus for the past two years owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, began with the preliminary round comprising nine high schools from across Jamaica on November 26, 2022.    The 2022 competing schools were Calabar High, Merl Grove High School, Clarendon College, St. George’s College, Bishop Gibson High School (for Girls), Belair High School, Alpha Academy, St. Jago High School and Herbert Morrison Technical High. 

Second runner up place was awarded to St. George’s College, while Merl Grove High School rounded out the top four schools. 

Mrs. Ave Marie McIntosh, Head, School of Mathematics and Statistics (SOMAS), Faculty of Science and Sport.

Mrs. Ave Maria McIntosh, Head, School of Mathematics and Statistics in giving a background to the Mathematics Quiz Competition, indicated that it was  conceptualized from an idea proposed by former President, Professor Stephen Vasciannie, as part of the University’s thrust to increase interest and critical thinking skills in Mathematics to promote the importance and development of the subject as a tool for problem solving across disciplines. Mrs. McIntosh also noted that “we also seek to identify gifted students and nurture them, thus promoting national development,” adding that “from this we aim to create Mathematics ambassadors who will spread the love for Mathematics”, creating a Mathematics culture needed for many areas of a country’s development. The inaugural UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition was won by Glenmuir High School in 2017 while Knox College earned the win in both 2018 and 2019. 

Mrs. Camae Johnson-Burrell, Regional Mathematics Coordinator, Region 6, Ministry of Education and Youth. 

The Ministry of Education and Youth reiterated its endorsement of the UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Competition in greetings brought by Mrs. Camae Johnson-Burrell, Regional Mathematics Coordinator, Region 6 who spoke on behalf of National Mathematics Coordinator, Dr. Tameka Benjamin.  She congratulated the University on the Mathematics Quiz Competition initiative, noting its alignment with the the Ministry’s aim to find ways to make Mathematics more “fun, attractive, and less intimidating” especially for students and the wider population of Jamaica, underscoring the subject’s importance as a life skill and its importance for national development. 

Sponsorship remarks were received from Mrs. Phillipa O-Connor Bennet, Head, Technical Regulations Unit, Bureau of Standards, Jamaica, Mr. Derrick Upfield, Senior Sales Executive, H&L Ultimate Touch Promotions Limited and Ms. Lisa Bryan, Sales and Customer Service Experience Manager, Bryan Studios Ltd. 

Serving as competition judges were Dr. Binil Sebastian and Mr Dennis Xavier, School of Mathematics and Statistics, FOSS.  Timekeeper was Mrs. Tessy Joy, while scorekeepers were Mr. Biju Tom Manianghattu and Mr. Dujon Dunn, SOMAS. 

Watch the Finals of the 4^th Annual UTech, Jamaica Mathematics Quiz Competition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj6biNKHA78