April 6, 2008 — When the V.I. Math Counts team heads off to Denver for the national championships in May, a 13-year-old St. John girl will be at the helm.
Julia Hogroian, an Antilles School eighth grader, took first place in the recent territorial Math Counts championship, which means she's the top math whiz on the team.
Hogroian can't explain why she's so good at math, but said she started honing her skills while a Montessori School student. She attended Montessori from the time she was two until she finished third grade
"That's where I learned math to start with. I just practice," she said.
She said coach Michele Garcia holds practice sessions in which they memorize formulas and work on strategies.
She said she likes math because there's more to it than just memorization, as in history and spelling. "You can't memorize every problem," she said.
No surprise, Hogroian said that math is her favorite school subject.
The national Math Counts team consists of the top four math whizzes from across the territory. She'll be joined in Denver for the May 8-11 tourney by two fellow Antilles students, Jordon Ladd and Richard Driscoll, as well as Country Day School student Bill Bird. Garcia will accompany the team.
The Denver trip will be her second to nationals. She went last year as the fourth-place finisher in the territorial championships. Hogroian also participated in the 2006 territorial championships, but didn't qualify for the national team.
When Hogroian is not working on math problems, you can find her learning sailing skills in the St. John Kids and the Sea program, playing volleyball and softball for Antilles School and participating in a St. Thomas/St. John volleyball league.
"And I like to hang out with friends," she said.
Hogroian puts in a long day, catching the 7 a.m. ferry from St. John to St. Thomas for school. When she has sports or Math Counts practice, she doesn't get home till 7 or 8 p.m. Then she has homework to do.
"I'm lucky I don't live in Coral Bay," she said, noting that living near Cruz Bay makes the commute a little easier.
She said that she's learned time management thanks to her packed schedule, but that her parents help her keep it all organized.
Hogroian was born in Puerto Rico to St. John-based parents, attorneys Geri Kotas and Steve Hogroian.
"Her dad and I are both very proud of her because she's smart, worked so hard and was a real leader for her team," Kotas said.
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