Longford student among top 0.3% nationally in Maths Week competition

The Cnoc Mhuire students who took part in the competition | Cnoc Mhuire Granard

placeholder image — The Cnoc Mhuire students who took part in the competition | Cnoc Mhuire Granard

Hanna Zajac of Cnoc Mhuire Granard scored 95% in the annual Maggie Gough Competition, held as part of Maths Week, which places her among the top 0.3% of over 18,000 participants nationwide.

A mathematically-gifted student of Cnoc Mhuire Granard has achieved a truly outstanding result in a national maths competition, placing among the top 0.3% of more than 18,000 participants nationwide.

Hanna Zajac being presented with her medal by Principal Jennifer McCabe | Cnoc Mhuire Granard

Hanna Zajac was named the overall winner at the school after scoring 95% in the annual Maggie Gough Competition, held as part of Maths Week.

The Maggie Gough competition is named after a Wexford woman who went on to become the first known Irish woman to earn a PhD in Mathematics.

Hanna’s achievement places among the highest-performing students in Ireland, earning her an IMTA medal presented by school principal Ms McCabe.

Hanna has excelled in mathematics throughout her time at Cnoc Mhuire, representing the school at regional competitions and recently achieving a Distinction in Maths in her Junior Certificate examinations.

The school awarded prizes to the leaders in each of the year groups stating “all with excellent scores well above the national average.”

These included

2nd year:

1. Michael Cholda (Top 5 in the school with the same exam as those in 5th Year).

2. Tiegan Butler

3. Donnacha Corr / Rachel Reilly

3rd year:

1. Colin McCabe

2. Aoife Kiernan

3. Darragh Matthews/ David Jones

Transition Year

1. Magdalena Karendal Wozniak

2. Deividas Jasiunas

3. Alan Kasprzak/ Xavi Bourke / Oliwia Zygmuntowicz

5th year

1. Bridgín Galligan

2. Oleh Ihnathchenko (Joint 1st)

3. Paul O’Reilly

The latest results add to a strong record of mathematical achievement at Cnoc Mhuire. Last year, students Leo Kelly, Declan McGerr, Adrians Ziemelis and Eanna Reilly finished fifth nationally in the IAMTA Problem-Solving Quiz.

The school also highlighted the achievements of Magdalena, Hanna, Oliwia and Jessica Shiels, who all secured the highest possible grade of Distinction in Maths in the recent Junior Cycle examinations.

Cnoc Mhuire said it was particularly pleasing to see so many girls excelling in the subject, with many of the students recognised either currently taking, or planning to take next year, the school's newly introduced Applied Maths programme.