Virginia Mathletes® compete at the 2016 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS® National Competition

WALTHAM, Mass., May 5, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- This weekend, four talented math stars from Virginia will face off at the 2016 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Washington, D.C.

Neeyanth Kopparapu (grade 8 of Herndon), Ben Kang (grade 8 of Falls Church), Alex Chung (grade 8 of Vienna), and Saketh Gabbita (grade 8 of Ashburn) will vie for the titles of National Champion and First Place Team in the nail-biting, game-show style competition, which empowers bright, hardworking middle school students to reach their full potential in mathematics.

The final 224 competitors who compete in the Washington, D.C., finale will represent all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories and schools from the Departments of Defense and State. They overcame heart-pounding competitions involving some 100,000 students from more than 5,000 schools at local and state levels. Raytheon Company is a title sponsor of the 2016 MATHCOUNTS National Competition. 

"The Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition creates an environment where students like Neeyanth, Ben, Alex and Saketh who have a passion for math and for STEM activities can excel and display that passion," said Lou DiGioia, executive director of MATHCOUNTS. "Our nation has a critical skills shortage in STEM fields and our partnership with Raytheon helps us provide engaging and enriching math programs to U.S. middle school students, expanding their future opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics."

In addition to bragging rights, the winners will win substantial prizes: The individual Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition Champion will receive the $20,000 Donald G. Weinert College Scholarship, along with a trip to U.S. Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The runner-up, as well as members of the winning team, will also receive college scholarships.

About MATHCOUNTS Foundation
MATHCOUNTS is a nonprofit organization that strives to engage middle school students of all ability and interest levels in fun, challenging math programs, in order to expand their academic and professional opportunities. Middle school students exist at a critical juncture in which their love for mathematics must be nurtured, or their fear of mathematics must be overcome. For more than 30 years, MATHCOUNTS has provided free, high-quality resources to educators and enriching, extracurricular opportunities to students to lay a foundation for future success. Materials and information are available at www.mathcounts.org.

About Raytheon
Raytheon Company, with 2015 sales of $23 billion and 61,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 94 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5I™ products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Visit us at www.raytheon.com and follow us on Twitter @Raytheon.

Media Contacts
MATHCOUNTS
Amanda Naar
[email protected]  
+1 703-299-9006

Raytheon Company
Allison Jeannotte
+1 781-522-5145
[email protected]

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SOURCE Raytheon Company

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