Mathematics problem solving will take center stage on Saturday when students from eight Wabash Valley middle schools compete for team and individual recognition in the regional MATHCOUNTS competition at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology.
The competition will have students participating in three rounds: Sprint, testing quickness to solve problems; Target, testing problem-solving skills; and Team, testing teamwork abilities. The top 24 student scorers will advance to the game show-type Countdown Round contest.
Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with final instructions following at 9 a.m. in Rose-Hulman’s Hulman Union. The Countdown Round, open to the public, is scheduled to begin at noon in the Hatfield Hall Theater.
The regional MATHCOUNTS event culminates months of early morning and late afternoon practice sessions by hundreds of area teenagers from schools in Vigo and Putnam counties. Each school can have up to two teams, which each consist of four students. Approximately 60 other students will participate as alternates, but won’t be eligible for individual honors.
Honey Creek Middle School will be going for its 14th straight team title, and should have another strong team under Coach Bob Fischer. Eight grader Krishan Kumar placed third in last year’s individual competition.
Other schools competing include Chauncey Rose, Otter Creek, St. Patrick’s, Sarah Scott, West Vigo and Woodrow Wilson, from Vigo County; and Greencastle Junior High School, from Putnam County.
The top two school teams and two individuals other teams will qualify for the Indiana MATHCOUNTS competition, being conducted at Rose-Hulman on March 13.
MATHCOUNTS, one of the nation’s largest and most successful education partnerships, is organized by Rose-Hulman Mathematics Professor Elton Graves.
He was assisted by Rose-Hulman colleagues Cara Brooks, Bill Eccles, Steve Galinaitis and John Rickert; local engineers Denis Radecki and Jim Baker; and more than 20 Rose-Hulman students. Local companies supporting the event include Baesler’s Market, Digital Audio Disc Corporation, Terre Haute Savings Bank, Pfizer, the Francis Vigo chapter of the Indiana Society of Professional Engineers, Commonwealth Constructors and Bemis Company.
