The Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers hosted the Big Sandy Chapter MathCounts Competition on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Big Sandy Community and Technical College campus in Prestonsburg, KY.
Advancing to the State Level of Competition
The top 2 teams and the top 3 individuals not on a winning team will advance to the Kentucky State MathCounts Competition, to be held at the University of Kentucky (Lexington, KY) in March.
· Members of the First-Place team from Pikeville Junior High were Hannah Chen, Jackie Khater, Alston Lin and Zandyr Ratliff coached by Candace Fleming.
· Members of the Second-Place team from Johnson County Middle School were Julianna Cochran, Zoe Johnson, Jaxon Sturgill and Bishop Ward coached by James Allen.
· The three individuals, not on a winning team, also moving on to the State Competition are Aiden Watts and Charles Lacy of Johnson County Middle, and Troy Smith of Phelps High School.
Cash and Scholarships Awarded
The top individual overall was Alston Lin, an 8th grader from Pikeville Junior High School. The top individual is awarded a four-year tuition scholarship to Morehead State University and $500 from the Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers.
The Lighthouse Beacon Foundation offered awards to additional top finishers. The Lighthouse Beacon Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, was founded by Stanley and Karen Pigman to encourage and enhance educational opportunities for students in Eastern Kentucky. Zandyr Ratliff (2nd Place – Pikeville Junior High) received $200, Jackie Khater (3rd Place – Pikeville Junior High) received $150, and Aiden Watts (4th Place – Johnson County Middle) received $100.
