March 13, 2007

SIUC to host 50th annual Mathematics Field Day

by Tim Crosby

CARBONDALE, Ill. — About 1,000 high school students from five states will descend on Southern Illinois University Carbondale later this month during the 50th annual Mathematics Field Day Competition.

The event is aimed at high school students and encouraging them to excel at math. The students will compete for various awards and scholarships by taking a rigorous mathematics test, designed by the Department of Mathematics faculty.

Students from 50 schools in Illinois, Alabama, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee will compete in this year's event. A maximum of 24 students, six per grade from each school, may compete.

This year's competition is set for Friday, March 23, at the SIU Arena.

Media Advisory

Reporters, photographers and camera crews are welcome to cover the Mathematics Field Day Competition. Photos and video may be taken during the initial portion of the testing period starting at 10 a.m. Reporters may conduct interviews following the testing, which finishes at noon. Organizers will present awards starting at 2:15 p.m. For more information, contact George Parker, associate professor of mathematics, at 618/453-6569 or gparker@math.siu.edu.

The College of Science is offering the Partial Tuition Waiver Award to the highest-scoring junior who plans to attend SIUC. Officials value the award at up to $4,000 in tuition over a four-year period.

Organizers also will present trophies and ribbons to top teams in three divisions based on enrollment. Top individual performers in each division will receive certificates.

The event includes a program for teachers, set for 10 a.m. in the E.T. & Kay Simonds Alumni Lounge in the Engineering Building.