February 08, 2010
Annual math field day competition set for Feb. 16
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Students from 50 schools in four states will compete in the annual Mathematics Field Day Competition this month at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
The competition, which pits math whizzes against each other using tests, is set for Tuesday, Feb. 16, 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. at Shryock Auditorium. For more information, contact Kathy Pericak-Spector, professor of mathematics, a 618/453-6573 or kpericak@math.siu.edu.
Students from Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee are slated to attend the competition, held at SIUC for more than 50 years. SIUC Department of Mathematics faculty design, present and score the test. A maximum of 32 students -- eight per grade from each school -- may compete.
The top award is partial tuition waiver scholarship to SIUC. The waiver provides $500 in tuition costs per semester, and is renewable for up to eight semesters for a possible $4,000 value. The University has offered the prize for the previous five years.
The University also will award trophies and ribbons to top teams in three divisions based on enrollment. Class A schools have fewer than 250 students, Class AA 250-750 students and Class AAA more than 750 students. Top individual contestants in each division will receive certificates.
Organizers also will offer a program for teachers with speaker Mary Wright, undergraduate adviser in the Department of Mathematics. The teacher’s program is set for 10:30 a.m. in room A-131 in the E.T. & Katy Simonds Alumni Lounge in the Engineering Building on campus.