Mathworks Hosts Middle School Math Contest

Mathworks will host middle school students from throughout central Texas who are taking the American Math Competitions’ AMC 8 contest on November 17, 2007.  After taking the AMC contest, students may also take the Mathworks’ Qualifying Test that identifies a team of four students who will compete in the Primary Math World Contest (PWMC) in Hong Kong next summer.

Students will take a guided tour of campus sponsored by Texas State University Admissions and then have lunch. After lunch, Bonnie Leitch, who oversees the AMC 8 contest nationally, will go over the problems and solutions.  In addition, Professor Jian Shen from the Texas State Math Department and past member of the Chinese Olympiad Team, will give a special guest lecture about problem solving.

The top thirty-two scorers on the PMWC Qualifying Test will be named Mathworks semi-finalists, and invited to complete applications to be on the PMWC Team and attend the Mathworks Junior Summer Math Camp training program in June. The Mathworks PMWC Team and summer training program is sponsored by the Siemens Foundation and Kodosky Foundation.  Siemens also sponsors the Siemens Competition for high school students, which annually awards over $1 million in scholarships to top students nationally.

Texas Mathworks is a center for mathematics education that develops model programs and self-sustaining learning communities that engage Texas K-12 students from all backgrounds in doing mathematics at a high level.  Mathworks was honored by Governor Perry by being one of five programs in Texas to receive the 2001 Texas Higher Education Star Award for Closing the Gaps, in recognition of its success in raising the mathematics level for all students, particularly underserved groups. For more information about Mathworks programs, contact Texas Mathworks at 512-245-3439 or see www.txstate.edu/mathworks.