Eight Clark Elementary fourth grade students have qualified to compete in the Regional Batter Up Competition.

“I’m very excited and proud of all the hard work that they have done,” said Jo Ann Bedwell. “I hope they do well tomorrow.”

Bedwell, the students’ teacher, said that Batter Up is a web-based tournament that allows students to practice mathematical skills while competing against students in other schools.

“If any other teachers are interested in this program, they can download it for free,” Bedwell said. “It has actually improved my students’ scores.”

When the competition began in January, the class was divided into teams. Each team competed in different categories – addition subtraction, multiplication, and division. For the next few months, the top teams in each category advanced from level to level – competing against each other in the class, the school, the region, then the state.

“The state competition was done here in the classroom,” Bedwell said. “To qualify for the regional competition, the teams had to come in first, second, or third place in the state.”

Team One, made up of Semaj King, Allenson Johnson, Kenchavious Bowie, and Demond Washington, placed second in the state in the areas of addition, multiplication and division.

Team Two, made up of K’Briaunna Curtis, Kishari Muse, Miesha Smiley, and Creshanda Steele, placed third in the state in the areas of multiplication and division.

The regional competition will be held Friday, May 6 at the McWayne Center in Birmingham. The two teams will compete against other teams from Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and Florida.

“I feel very exited and glad that I made it,” said Miesha Smiley, who will be competing in multiplication and division. “I’m not nervous because I have been in competitions before.”

Demond Washington, who will be competing in addition, multiplication, and division, said, “I feel glad that I got picked in the Batter Up competition.”

“We have had kind donations that made it possible,” said Jo Ann Bedwell. “Ellwood has donated, Shiloh has donated, and I’m expecting other donations later.”

Sponsored by Virginia College Online, Chick-fil-A, the McWayne Center, EdCom/AITA, and Tech Birmingham, the Regional Batter Up Competition will allow students to win individual trophies, trophies for their schools, and their share of $50,000 in scholarship certificates from Virginia College Online.

For more information about the Batter Up program, please visit the company’s website at www.compusage.com.