Sunday morning math in Millstone
Nearly 100 kids participate in first-ever math competition
BY JENNIFER KOHLHEPP Staff Writer

Almost 100 local students in grades 2-7 participated in the first Mathkinz.com Math Competition Sept. 14 at the Millstone Township Community Center.

MILLSTONE — They came. They saw. They calculated.

Almost 100 local kids woke up bright and early Sunday morning to take a math test for fun during the first Mathkinz.com Math Competition.

Millstone's Jain family, which created the free math Web site for kids this summer, hosted the Sept. 14 competition at the Millstone Township Community Center.

Nirlesh Jain, Mathkinz.com creator and competition founder, said, "Kids started showing up at 9:30 a.m. with lots of enthusiasm. Despite the Eagles football game on Sunday and other events going on 95 kids showed up."

The competition had three levels, one for grades two and three, one for grades four and five and one for grades six and seven. The children participating were seated in two rooms of the community center.

Prizes were given to those who took the test and Millstone Mayor Nancy Grbelja commended the students for their participation.

In the 2-3 grade competition, Kunal Adhia, Poojit Hegde and Zachary Kokot won gold medals for 78 scores and Jasman Singh won a silver medal for a 77 score. In the 4-5 grade competition, Shashwat Singh won the gold for an 88 score and Bobby Galindo won the silver for his 86 score. In the 6-7 grade competition, Yash Patel earned the gold for a score of 94 and Victoria Ding earned the silver for her 60 score.

Jain said parents were pleased with the first math event.

"Parents were very encouraging and supportive, even came all the way from Philadelphia for their kids to participate in the test," Jain said. "Special thanks to all kids, parents, volunteers and sponsors for making the first Mathkinz competition a success."

Jain thanked Andy and Shipra Jain, Purva and Mahesh Samdani, and Madhu and Subash Sehgal for donating refreshments and Shital and Bhavik Daftary for donating the trophies.

"I would like to thank Varun Jain, Arjun Sehgal and Maansi Jain for preparing the tests, testing the questions and not participating in exams," he said.

Jain also thanked Madhu Sehgal and Sangeeta Garg, who helped advertise the competition by distributing notices in the Millstone elementary, primary and middle schools, and Neha Sehgal, who registered students as they entered.

"110 kids registered for Math Competition by sending an email to test@mathkinz. com," Jain said. "Some of the kids could not make it due to emergency reasons and other commitments."

Jain said Mathkinz.com plans to hold similar tests at least twice a year.

"Just at the beginning of school start and before state exams, such as NJASK, to give an opportunity both to parents and to the kids to assess themselves and their capability and improve on their deficits," he said. "There is no financial interest in it. It is a pure community service for our developing kids to help make their future better. However, we would appreciate sponsors to help."

Jain created Mathkinz.com with the help of Chetan Jain, a graduate student at Rutgers University in New Brunswick. The free Web site helps children in grades pre-K-7 learn math through various worksheets, tests and games. Jain creates the site's content based on what his children and their friends are learning in school and state examinations.

Contact Jennifer Kohlhepp at

examiner@gmnews.com.