March 24, 2008

Math Field Day will draw students from five states

by Tim Crosby

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

The event, set for Friday, March 28, at the SIU Arena, is aimed at encouraging high school students to excel at math. Participating students will compete for several awards and scholarships by taking a rigorous mathematics test, designed by the Department of Mathematics faculty.

This year's event marks the 50th anniversary of the Math Field Day.

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.


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; or Kathy Pericak-Spector, professor of mathematics, a 618/453-6573 or kpericak@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. & Katy Simonds Alumni Lounge in the Engineering Building.