And today the Rotary Club of Indio hosted its 29th annual Middle School Math Field Day at John Glenn Middle School The event drew more than 300 students from 12 different Coachella Valley middle schools which makes it one of the region's most attended and cherished showcases of student achievement in Mathematics Math Field Day known affectionately as MFD invites 6th 7th and 8th grade students from Desert Sands Unified Coachella Valley Unified Palm Springs Unified and participating private schools to showcase their mathematical talent through a series of competitive events handson games and team challenges Each school selects a team of up to 30 students who are accompanied by a faculty advisor So we started back in 1995 A group of Rotarians came together and we wanted to have math games for kids We wanted to be our club here is focused in Indio so we reached out to our local schools but we really want to include all of the schools in the district so that we can have one big event Top performers were recognized with trophies ribbons and certificates of participation

INDIO, CA — The calculators were set aside and the mental gymnastics began yesterday at John Glenn Middle School as the Rotary Club of Indio hosted its 29th annual Middle School Math Field Day. The event, affectionately known as "MFD," drew more than 300 students from 12 different Coachella Valley middle schools, solidifying its reputation as one of the region's most cherished showcases of student achievement.

The day-long competition invited 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students from Desert Sands Unified, Coachella Valley Unified, Palm Springs Unified, and local private schools to put their skills to the test. Each school selected a specialized team of up to 30 students, who were accompanied by faculty advisors for a series of high-stakes challenges.

A Legacy of Learning

The Indio Rotary's commitment to the event dates back to 1995. Founded under the leadership of the late Riverside County Supervisor John J. Benoit, the program was created to ensure local students had a dedicated platform to compete without having to travel to regional competitions in Riverside.

"A group of Rotarians came together and we wanted to have math games for kids," organizers recalled of the event's origins. "We really want to include all of the schools in the district so that we can have one big event."

The 2026 competition featured a mix of traditional problem-solving and hands-on team challenges, including:

- Mental Gymnastics: A calculator-free arithmetic sprint.

- Construction Derby: Collaborative building tasks using everyday materials.

- Team Investigation: A series of complex puzzles requiring group strategy.

- Strategy Games: Traditional math-based games like Hex and 3D Tic-Tac-Toe.

Rewarding Excellence

The event also featured a special presentation by NASA Solar System Ambassador Maria Wren, who connected the students' classroom skills to real-world careers in air travel and space exploration.

The day concluded with an awards ceremony where top performers were recognized with trophies, ribbons, and certificates of participation. Individual "Top Mathematician" awards were handed out for each grade level, with cash prizes of up to $100 for top placements. For the schools, the highest-ranking teams walked away with perpetual trophies to display on their own campuses.

As the 29th year comes to a close, the energy at John Glenn Middle School proved that after three decades, the Coachella Valley's passion for mathematics is only growing.

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