Each year Jonathan Leohr, an engineering and computer science teacher at Apollo High School, begins the school year with a simple challenge for his students — memorize the first 100 numbers in Pi, an irrational number with a non-ending set of non-repeating digits.
According to Leohr, one student successfully completed that challenge a decade ago, but no other student has been able to until last week when junior Benjamin O’Bryan repeated the feat.
“I love to inspire my students to do more than they think is possible and to that end,” Leohr said.
O’Bryan, who took only a week to memorize the 100 digits, had previously memorized the first 50 digits last year in a challenge to himself.
“Man, I wish I had more students like that! Leohr said. “When I put forth the challenge, he was re-inspired to see if he could complete my challenge. After just four hours of studying with an app he has on his phone, he came to school with a giant grin on his face.”
Any student to complete the Pi challenge was also granted extra credit in Leohr’s college-level programming class.
“Benjamin was willing to do what was necessary to get ahead in the class,” Leohr said. “He was so eager to show what he had done, so still with that giant grin on his face, he strolled straight up to the board and just started writing. When he was finished, he confidently stated, ‘Check it.’ To my delight, it was perfect!”
