Elgin Community College's 22nd Math Integration Contest Was the Largest Yet

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Elgin Community College hosted its largest-ever Math Integration Contest on December 5, 2025. For the first time, dual-credit students from local high schools joined ECC students in the competition, reflecting the event’s growing reach and interest in advanced mathematics across the region.

A total of 61 students participated, making the contest the largest to date. The increased turnout prompted organizers to relocate the competition from a math lab on the Spartan Drive Campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, Illinois, to ECC’s larger Alumni Room. 

South Elgin High School student Ethan Horton won first place, followed by ECC students Kyle Gilligan in second and Fnu Sweekar in third place. Horton won a $450 Amazon gift card, Gilligan won a $150 Amazon gift card, and Sweekar won a $50 Amazon gift card.

The competition, held once a semester for the past 11 years, was led by Assistant Professor of Mathematics Kenneth Beynon, who organized and emcees the event.

“There are timed rounds for each round,” Beynon said.”Each participant works on the same problem. We put the big problem up on a big overhead so everyone can see it. They have a certain amount of time to solve the problem. If they get it right, they proceed to the next round. If they get it wrong, they get a strike. If they get three strikes, they’re eliminated.”

ECC’s math faculty were on hand to help judge and assist in the competition, as well as participating high school teachers like Ryan Carbonaro from South Elgin High School, Joe Bilyard from Elgin High School, and Angie Deku from Bartlett High School 

The competition is open to students enrolled in Calculus two or higher, and typically attracts those interested in STEM pathways, such as math, engineering, physics, and computer science.

“It was exciting to get high school students involved,” Beynon said. “We really want to keep growing it, and hopefully, one day, it’ll be in a big auditorium with hundreds of people participating. That would be my dream. It's a time for all math nerds to get together and enjoy, problem solve, and use their skills in a positive way.”