WKU News

The practices are over. They qualified to represent their school. They survived the grueling chapter competitions. Now, the state finals are upon us.

The 2017 MATHCOUNTS State Competition will be held March 25 at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center.

Starting at 9 a.m. March 25, 158 middle school students representing 48 schools across the Commonwealth of Kentucky will compete in the 2017 MATHCOUNTS State Competition at WKU’s Knicely Conference Center.  These students are advancing from chapter competitions that were held Feb. 18 at 13 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* and an expenses-paid trip to the Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition in Orlando, Florida, on May 13-16, where they will represent Kentucky for the national title and individually compete for additional scholarships, a trip to US Space Camp, medals, and more.  Students who place fifth through 10th on March 25 will receive an annual tuition scholarship of $1,500 per year for four years at either of the universities listed above.  (*Five years if the student attends U of L and majors in engineering.)

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 34^th year. It is estimated that 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’ (KSPE) ongoing commitment to encourage sixth, seventh and eighth 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. Among the Kentucky supporters are the University of Kentucky, the University of Louisville and WKU, which provide the scholarships.  Other financial supporters include American Council of Engineering Companies of Kentucky, Kentucky Society of Professional Engineers, Kentuckiana Post of the Society of American Military Engineers, Stantec Consulting Services, Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc., and Louisville Community Foundation for the Zoeller Company.

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 and placing ninth in 2000 and 2007.  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 and their performance is impressive.

Contact: Marcie Fisher, (502) 695-5680 or marcie@kyengcenter.org