JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley’s Academic Games team recently returned from Florida with three national champions, all of whom are sixth grade students at Haine Middle School.

The Academic Games competition pits students of the same age group against each other and quizzes them in areas like mathematics, social studies and language arts.

Players are often given equations and trivia questions to solve, but other forms of the competition also include games deeply rooted in problem solving as well as board games.

The national championship is attended by various school districts from eight states. Seneca Valley sent 42 students from grades sixth through twelve to the championship.

Haine Middle School students Daniel Popp, Emily Scanlan and Emily Winterhalter all finished as national champions in the individual portion of the competition.

There were also six other Seneca students in the top ten in both the individual and team performances.

Linda Andreassi, director of communications for Seneca Valley, said the accomplishments are the “equivalent of earning All-American status as an athlete” and that the district is very proud of the students.

“Awards of this caliber speak highly of the students in Academic Games and their competitive spirit,” Andreassi said. “All of us are proud of their accomplishments throughout the year and at nationals. We wish them continued success.”