The husband and wife team of Keni and Punam Patel has brought the Mathnasium concept of learning to Centreville area students. The Mathnasium opened in February in Centreville Square II near the Party Depot. Inside the storefront, an open area is filled with tables and games; oversized math “scribbles” decorate the walls.

Keni Patel received his undergraduate and graduate degrees in electrical engineering from Boston University and was subsequently an Advanced Studies Research Fellow at MIT. He is currently an applied mathematician in the Advanced Technology Group at Boeing Defense in Fairfax.

Punam Patel studied human psychology at the University of Iowa and has since worked for the Red Cross and Boeing Defense in coordination, recruiting, and human resources roles.All new students at Mathnasium are given an oral and written assessment that gauges their level of mathematical maturity and finds the gaps. Each child receives a customized plan for resolving those issues

Mathnasium, located within Centreville Square II at 5959 Centreville Crest Lane, is open for instruction Monday through Thursday, from 3 to 7 p.m.; and Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The program is geared for students in grades 1–12. Summer program and general information can be found at www.mathnasium.com/centrevilleva, by calling 703-828-2003, or e-mailing centrevilleva@mathnasium.com.