Over 150 middle school students put their minds to the test in the 2025 Bebras Computing Challenge, a worldwide competition focused on computational thinking and problem-solving. Students from around the globe tackled challenging logic puzzles and questions designed to push their analytical abilities to the limit.
Leading the charge for Garfield were our Individual Champions, who demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating the competition's toughest challenges. Seventh grader Cole Lohr absolutely dominated the field, earning the highest score in the entire school with an impressive 136 points. Other award winners for the 7th grade included Reagan Delvaux (128) and Everett Thompson (122). Eighth grader Sage Rainey also showcased remarkable computational thinking abilities, claiming the individual 8th grade championship for her score of 128. Other award winners for the 8th grade included Gavyn Long (114) and Cooper Dalton (108). All of these individuals and their impressive scores proved that James A. Garfield students can compete with the best problem-solvers worldwide.
The team competitions brought out fierce but friendly rivalry across three divisions. In the 8th Grade Doubles division, the top three teams demonstrated outstanding collaboration and logic skills. Award winners included Izaiah Bonzanto / Owen Fleck (136), Trenton Beck / Mark Tasker (118), and Knox Paul / Camden Kleinhen (108). The 7th Grade Doubles division saw excellent teamwork as pairs worked together to crack complex puzzles. Award winners included Ben Kercher / Andrew West (118), Jonah Orzechowski / Nolan Palmer (116), and Cameron Strok / Jace Hargett (100). The Mixed Doubles division highlighted how students from different grade levels can combine their strengths to tackle challenging problems. Award winners from this group included William Charpentier / Hank Ochwat (128), Jordan Adams / Brody Adams (119), and Sabrina Evans / Sawyer Hill (96).
But students weren't the only ones getting in on the action! The staff team of Mrs. Giammo, Miss Urban, Mr. Rado, and Mrs. Gilmer took on the challenge themselves and emerged victorious in the staff competition, proving that our teachers have serious computational thinking skills of their own.
To all 150+ students who participated—thank you for the time, effort, and brainpower you invested in this event. Whether you topped the leaderboard or simply challenged yourself with something new, you represented James A. Garfield with dedication and determination. Your willingness to tackle difficult problems and think critically is what makes our school community special! It was a great day to be a G-Man!
Go G-Men!