By Joshua Koch
Public Communications
Foster Elementary fourth grader Ethan Thomas has been named a 2024 National Math Star and awarded $100,000 in educational resources over the next 10 years.
Thomas will receive $10,000 per year for the next decade to have access to advanced coursework, mentorship from mathematicians, summer camp experiences, family advising, community events, and financial assistance for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) extracurricular activities.
In the State of Texas, Thomas was one of 61 students to be selected for the 2024 cohort out of over 1,300 applications. The 61 students represented 27 different Texas school districts.
Along with Thomas, who was named a National Math Star, Humble ISD had six more finalists and 48 nominees. The finalists were Dominick Lerma (Bear Branch Elementary), Abigail Travis (Elm Grove Elementary), August Utley (Groves Elementary), Mia van der Walt (Deerwood Elementary), Ian Haynie (Whispering Pines Elementary) and Drew Jones (Oaks Elementary).
After running a pilot cohort in 2023 with students from all across the country, National Math Stars recruited its first cohort of students from Texas in 2024.
For the first Texas cohort, students must live in Texas, be in the 2nd or 3rd grade at the time of application and demonstrate extraordinary math aptitude – top 2% of test scores at their school/district or teacher/staff referral.
Humble ISD utilized its interim math test given to the entire grade level to identify third grade students. The list of Humble ISD qualifying students was sent to National Math Stars. These families received a medal and parent letter for each of the students that made up the top two percent. Humble ISD Advanced Learning and Services also created certificates signed by Director of Advanced Learning Dr. Tong Utakrit and the principal of the campus.
Each family that wanted to pursue the program had to follow the next steps of the application process.
The students had to submit the application and take a math exam in July. Out of the pool of approximately 1,300 applicants, National Math Stars selected their approximately 200 finalists.
Finalists had to complete a final proctored online exam (CogAT) and participate in an interview with National Math Stars staff. The 2024 National Math Stars were notified on August 30.
Successful applicants excelled on both timed and untimed examinations, as well as problem-solving interviews. The National Math Stars team evaluated each application and selected Stars based on mathematical ability, interest in STEM and need for additional support. On average, Stars scored above the 99th percentile on both the quantitative and nonverbal sections of the Cognitive Abilities Test.
National Math Stars was founded in 2023. The nonprofit’s mission is to ensure mathematically extraordinary students from all communities have the resources they need to reach the frontiers of math and science.
Pictured Above: Humble ISD Acting Superintendent Dr. Roger Brown, Humble ISD G/T Differentiation Coach and Identification Specialist Judi Elliott, Humble ISD Advanced Learning Coordinator, Elementary Schools Jennifer Williams, Foster Elementary’s Ethan Thomas, Whispering Pines Elementary’s Ian Haynie, Oaks Elementary’s Drew Jones, Bear Branch Elementary’s Dominick Lerma, Elm Grove Elementary’s Abigail Travis, Deerwood Elementary’s Mia van der Walt, Groves Elementary’s August Utley, Humble ISD School Board President Chris Parker and Humble ISD Director of Advanced Learning and Services Dr. Tong Utakrit are honored at the November 12 Humble ISD School Board Meeting.