What is MATHCOUNTS?
 MATHCOUNTS is a motivating and rewarding
national math coaching and competition program that promotes middle
school mathematics achievement through grassroots involvement in every
U.S. state and territory. In Florida, participating middle schools
compete individually or as part of a team in one of nineteen FES
Chapter MATHCOUNTS competitions held in February. FES Chapters in turn
send their winning teams and individuals to the state competition held
in Orlando in March. "Mathletes" compete to advance to the 20th Annual
National Competition being May 8-11, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois. All
Mathletes must be in the 6th, 7th, or 8th grade, and have typically
been coached for several months by their middle school within their
daily curriculum and/or on personal time. Each competition includes
both written and oral math testing on a very high level. The Florida
Engineering Society is proud to have sponsored Florida's MATHCOUNTS
since it's origination in 1983.
MATHCOUNTS
attracts students with an interest in high-tech and engineering fields.
In a recent survey of past state competitors the top three chosen
college majors were engineering, mathematics, and computer science.
And, MATHCOUNTS participants are high achievers. Surveys show that
nearly 45 percent of alumni report a combined SAT score of 1500 or
above.
Florida's MATHCOUNTS
The
size of the chapter competitions and state competition are steadily
increasing as FES strives to make it more exciting and fun, and include
greater numbers of students than the previous year. In 2003, Florida's
state competition hosted 242 Mathletes from around the state,
comprising 45 teams and 22 individual competitors.
The
team competition combines scores achieved in three rounds of written
tests which were administered by NSPE MATHCOUNTS Task Force member
Bruce Lawson, PE of the Central Florida Chapter. Greenwood Lakes
Middle School from the Central Florida Chapter took the top honors
in the team competition, represented by the all girl team of Nedhi
Hebbar, Casey Hua, Allison James, and Elizabeth
Nadelman. The second place team, Jackson Heights Middle School,
also in the Central Florida Chapter, was composed of Jason Geissler,
Brian Jones, Jesse Kelliher, and James
Mesiona. FES President Elect Shannon LaRocque, PE awarded
the members of the top two teams with trophies and $100 savings bonds
provided by Peoples First Community Bank.
The
individual state champion is Jason Kleban, of Pine Crest School
from the Palm Beach Chapter. Kevin Thompson of Ruckel Middle
School in the Emerald Coast Chapter placed second in the individual
competition, Pengtao "Mac" Teng from Young Middle Magnet School
in the Tampa Chapter was third, and Yannik Pitcan of Tuskawilla
Middle School in the Central Florida Chapter secured fourth place.
President Elect Shannon LaRocque bestowed each of these students with a
$500 scholarship funded by the Florida Engineering Foundation. These
top four Mathletes will represent the state of Florida at the
MATHCOUNTS National Competition, coached by Coach Robert Jones
from the winning Greenwood Lakes team. In preparation for the national
tournament, the Florida team will participate in two training retreats
conducted by Coach Jones and Howard Ludwig, Ph.D.
Sponsors
are vital to Florida's MATHCOUNTS, and make the entire program
possible. State sponsors include Geometry Sponsor PBS&J,
Algebra Sponsor Lockheed Martin, Arithmetic Sponsor Publix
Super Market Charities, and Math Sponsors Gulf Power
Foundation, Inc., and Collinsworth, Alter, Nielson, Fowler
& Dowling, Inc.
MATHCOUNTS Magic
Florida
MATHCOUNTS partnered with the Orlando Magic again this year,
assisted by the fantastic Steve Chamberland. Oral rounds were
held on the floor of the TD Waterhouse Centre, where the Orlando Magic
play. NBA Veteran, Slam Dunk Champion, and Director of Player
Development for the Orlando Magic Dee Brown addressed Mathletes
at the awards presentation, with words of wisdom on the importance of
education. Mathletes then attended the Magic game that evening, where
the Magic easily defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers. During half time the
winning individuals and coach were presented on center court.
Florida's Volunteers
Co-chairmen
Glenn Forrest, PE, Central Florida Chapter, and Clay
Tappan, PE, Myakka Chapter led a team of over 50 volunteers hosting
the state competition. The "calculating wizards" in the scoring room,
facilitated by Scott and Sandy Johnson of the Northeast Florida
Chapter, produced accurate and timely results. Carole Forrest
from the Central Florida Chapter hosted the coaches' room. The
designated team alternates were also able to take the competition
written tests administered by Sherri Houp of Ruckel Middle
School. Dick Gassett, PE, once again hosted the ciphering and
countdown rounds, creating a stimulating fun-filled atmosphere. Doug
Merkle, PE, Gulf Coast Chapter, acted as official time-keeper,
lending his distinctive voice to keep Mathletes on their toes.
MATHCOUNTS substantial volunteer network, composed of over 400
Professional Engineers, teachers, engineering students, math students,
corporate volunteers, and alumni use the MATHCOUNTS program throughout
the school year to foster students' creativity and self-confidence.
Without the time, energy, and enthusiasm of these outstanding
volunteers, MATHCOUNTS would not be as enriching as expansive as it has
become.
Why MATHCOUNTS Works
MATHCOUNTS
works because it:
- Motivates
and rewards students by fostering team problem solving and competitive
spirit;
- Is
more than a competition. It involves students and teachers in year
long coaching sessions and helps students at varied skill levels;
- Builds
math skills, promotes strategic problem solving and challenges students
to sharpen their analytical abilities;
- Gives
America's sixth, seventh and eighth grade math teachers incentive to
excel in the classroom and provides state of the art materials to
enhance education in the classroom;
- Stimulates
student interest in math by introducing students to math related
careers through contacts with engineers and other program volunteers;
- Is
educator driven. Materials and activities are structured to meet
student needs identified by educators and are written each year by
members of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics in keeping
with the NCTM curriculum standards.
National MATHCOUNTS
Registration and Information
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