2nd grade Windsor student places fourth in national mental math contest

The City of Windsor may have a mathematicswhiz in its midst and mental math is his game.

Shivam Patel, 8, recentlyfinished as the third runner up in his age category in a national mental math contest.

The Universal Concept of Mental Arithmetic System (UCMAS)is an international program which helps young students develop mathematicskills through the use of an abacus. Children are trained in rapid math calculation and are taughtstrategies to enhance their cognitive skills in order to complete complex mathematics in their head.

"I'm glad to win the national competition and make my country, Canada, proud," Shivam said.

Shivam, a grade two student at St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Elementary School, has been a student of UCMAS for the last three years. He has participated in the national contest once before, but this was his first year achieving a high award.

Eight year old Windsor student wins third place in UCMAS competition

3 years ago

Duration 1:59

Shivam Patel, eight years old, is a student of UCMAS.

"I feel proud of him, but I wasn't very surprised that he can achieve this," said AerryPatel, Shivam'sfather.

"Mainly this is his hard work," said Aerry."Alittle bit of God's grace and mainly the grandparents and my wife, they practiced a lot with him."

Aerry and his wife, Sneha Patel, noticed Shivam's mathematical skills when he very young. His teachers hadpointed out his gift for mathematics to them, and have shown support for his progress.

"They are extremely proud of him and they wish he keeps achieving this goal and maybe at an internationallevel, he makes Canada proud," said Sneha.

Sneha has practiced with her son each day, helping him to improve his skills.

She saidShivam has two more levels to achieve at the UCMAS. Once Shivam reachesthe highest level in the program, he will have the ability to calculate complex mental mathematics with five to six digit numbers on his own.

"Hopefully this will help him to achieve his future goals of becoming a math teacher," said Aerry.

Shivam has said he wants to be a math teacher when he grows up, but as a child, he enjoys others hobbies as well.

"I'm good at bicycle exercises and stretching and doing homework," said Shivam.

The UCMASbegan operating in North America in 2004. It has locations in 75 countries worldwide with more than 50,000 students.