On Feb. 3, Andreas A. Polycarpou, dean of the College of Engineering & Computer Science, welcomed the East Central Regional MATHCOUNTS event to The University of Tulsa. Peyton Cook, associate professor of mathematics, acted as chief judge to over 130 middle school students, 10 of which were awarded a special scholarship to TU.
MATHCOUNTS is an outreach program where mathematically inclined middle school students compete on a regional and national level. “Watching these students engage in productive struggle and try new methods of problem solving is overly exciting. TU plays a small part of their educational journey; however, it is a monumental step in developing confidence in their academic abilities or even discovering a future career,” said Kimberly Adams, senior instructor of mathematics. Adams also serves as the director of the Tulsa Girls Math Circle, a member of Tulsa Math Teachers Circle and is director of CyberCity Tulsa.
Robert Strattan, professor of electrical engineering, is a longtime supporter of MATHCOUNTS and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programs. “It is personally very satisfying to have a hand in this 40-year partnership with the Oklahoma Engineering Foundation (OEF),” Strattan said.
OEF directs MATHCOUNTS Oklahoma, which provides engaging math programs to U.S. middle school students of all ability levels to build confidence and improve attitudes about math and problem solving. The program fosters the highly advanced problem solving and critical thinking skills that today’s students need to become tomorrow’s innovators and leaders and to help keep Oklahoma competitive in the technology-driven economy.