The practices are over. They qualified to represent their school. They survived the grueling chapter competitions. Now, the state finals are here.
Come 9 a.m. on Saturday morning, March 21, 159 middle school students representing 49 schools across the Commonwealth of Kentucky will compete in the 2015 MATHCOUNTS “State” Competition at the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Louisville. These students are advancing from chapter competitions that were held February 14, 25 and 28 at 13 different locations across Kentucky.
Besides receiving trophies, T-shirts, and certificates, the top four students will win four-year, full tuition college scholarships to either the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville (five years if the student attends U of L and majors in engineering) and an expenses-paid trip to the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Boston, Massachusetts on May 7 – 10, where they will represent Kentucky for the national title and individually compete for additional scholarships, a trip to U.S. Space Camp, medals, and more.
Students who place fifth through tenth on March 21 will receive an annual tuition scholarship of $1,500 per year for four years at either of the universities listed above.
MATHCOUNTS was founded in 1983 by the National Society of Professional Engineers, CNA Insurance Company, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and is celebrating its 32nd year. It is estimated that this year over 250,000 students nationally and 9,000 students in the Commonwealth of Kentucky will be exposed to MATHCOUNTS through the classroom, home study, or private coaching experiences.
MATHCOUNTS represents the Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers’ on-going commitment to encourage 6th, 7th and 8th grade students to strengthen skills in math, science, leadership, and teamwork. Engineers hope to impress such skills to students as essential to their future academic and professional careers. Students compete individually and as teams in written and fast-paced, oral matches designed to stimulate their exposure to a wide range of mathematics.
KSPE, headquartered in Frankfort, sponsors the MATHCOUNTS program through its non-profit, education-based corporation, the Kentucky Engineering Foundation, Inc. The program is operated and administered by volunteers from the engineering community with financial support by many companies, individuals, and organizations.
Kentucky’s MATHCOUNTS program is one of the most successful in the United States with several Top Ten success stories, including having the 1995 National Champion. The program succeeds by making math achievement as challenging, exciting, and important as a school sport. “Mathletes” prepare all year to compete individually and in teams.
From MATHCOUNTS