Way to Go: Mayu Takeuchi, Port Jefferson

A Port Jefferson student with an aptitude for math earned a perfect score in a prestigious national competition.

Mayu Takeuchi, an eighth-grader at Port Jefferson Middle School, gave correct answers to all 25 questions on the 2014 American Mathematics Contest — AMC 8, a multiple-choice exam that promotes the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. Only 214 of more than 130,000 participants nationwide last fall had perfect scores.

Takeuchi, 13, said she also took the 40-minute test last year as a seventh-grader. She correctly answered 20 questions then.

"Having the experience of taking it before, I knew what to expect and how to pace myself," Takeuchi said, noting that the test's questions get progressively harder. Of her love for math, she said: "There are always multiple ways to solve a given question, and it's fun to look for the easiest way."

Takeuchi now is taking two high school math courses — geometry and algebra II/trigonometry.

She is a member of her school's varsity tennis team and National Junior Honor Society, president of Yearbook Club, and a class representative of the school's Latin Club. She plays violin with the World Youth Alliance Chamber Orchestra in Manhattan.

"Mayu is a fantastic student who is really involved in school," Principal Antonio Santana said.