Clark State Community College, in partnership with Johns Hopkins University and the Mathematical Association of America, will present the annual Clark County Math Challenge to middle school and high school students in Clark County.
“Nationally and locally, schools have participated on varying levels of involvement with American Math Competitions,” said Kanesha Hall, STEM programming manager for Clark State. “Johns Hopkins University and Clark State have partnered to support the vision of Springfield philanthropist Rosalyn R. Bullock to provide local youth with STEM opportunities that Johns Hopkins University offers.”
Hall said full scholarships for two youth STEM programs of Johns Hopkins University were offered to Clark County’s middle and high schools students. For the first time, middle schools and high schools can participate in the American Math Competition without the burden of financial costs. There is no limit to the number of students that can participate from each school.
There are three American Math Competitions: AMC 8, AMC 10 and AMC 12. Clark County, Ohio, students under the age of 14.5 or in 6th, 7th or 8th grade can participate in the AMC 8. High school students under the age of 17.5 can participate in the AMC 10, and high school students under the age of 19.5 can participate in the AMC 12.
The top 25 students will be reported in the results of the contests, and teachers will have access to a report of what math processes their students did or did not comprehend well. However, the AMC contests do not involve grades or negative ramifications.
Students who place in 1st, 2nd or 3rd place will receive cash rewards. “There will be Spring Math Lectures given by a Johns Hopkins University scientist; the top three AMC 8, AMC 10 and AMC 12 contestants will be rewarded during that event in April 2016,” said Hall. “The teachers of students who place 1st in the contests will also be rewarded at the Spring Math Lectures.”
The contest dates are November 17, 2015, for the AMC 8 and February 2, 2016, for the AMC 10 and AMC 12. At each participating school, a math teacher and or school administrator will proctor the contests. Hall said the Mathematical Association of America provides sample contest questions in the teacher’s manuals for the AMC 8, AMC 10 and AMC 12. The manuals are emailed to middle school and high school faculty who commit to proctoring the contest.
“Students should consider participating in the AMC contests because it’s an opportunity to push themselves in mathematics,” said Hall. “Math and reading are important areas to be fluent in so I encourage every student to try it out and challenge themselves.”
The AMC 8 deadline to register is October 14 and the AMC 10 and AMC 12 deadline to register is December 17. To register, schools and parents can contact Hall at hallk@clarkstate.edu.
Hall said she is looking forward to discovering who the winners will be. “Since the top 25 students will be reported for each school, I strongly encourage school principals and math teachers to celebrate their American Math Competition winners,” she said. “The scientist coming to Springfield from Johns Hopkins University is already very excited to meet the students.”