An annual Bridgeport tradition is encouraging kids to love math.

Bridgeport Public Schools held its 40th annual Math Meet competition Thursday at Sacred Heart University's West Campus.

A total of 120 students from 20 schools participated.

Students from each school competed as one team to solve problems and work on activities against other schools.

Organizers say they want kids to know how important math is.

"The goal is to infuse mathematics and to have an opportunity for students to collaborate on mathematics. Solve problems and just to bring about a notion that mathematics is great to solve problems for different things in society as well as the need to learn more math in school," said Herminio Planas, executive director of mathematics at Bridgeport Public Schools.

Prizes were handed out for first, second and third place and most improved school.

Participants also received a T-shirt and certificate, and the top students received a graphic calculator.