Oregon Tech hosted the 2011 Klamath County Chapter MATHCOUNTS Competition on February 4, 2011. The event was sponsored by several Oregon Tech Departments including: Geomatics, Mathematics, Renewable Energy Engineering, and Student Affairs.
This exciting competition brought nearly 100 Mathletes® (6th – 8th grade) from all over the Klamath Basin and northern California. Coaches worked with these students for months in preparation for this competition. The top officially registered team and the top two officially registered individuals now have the opportunity to compete in the State Competition in March.
Oregon Tech greatly appreciates the efforts of the Oregon Tech students and faculty who volunteered their time to support this event. In addition, several local engineers including Anders Rasmussen, Allison Rasmussen, Becky Graetsch, and Major Tim Bruner generously volunteered for this event.
Students participated in three rounds of competition and then listened to presentations from local civil engineer Anders Rasmussen, Geomatics Professor Jack Walker, and Renewable Energy Engineering Professor Jaime Zipay.
Awards were given to the following competitors:
MATHCOUNTS Official Competition
Individual
1st place – Meghan Riechmann, Ponderosa Junior High School
2nd place – Logan Phillips, Ponderosa Junior High School
3rd place – Zoë Whitlock, Ponderosa Junior High School
Team
1st place – The Mus, Ponderosa Junior High School (Logan Phillips, Meghan Riechmann, Sorel Rogers, and Zoë Whitlock)
2nd place – Brixner Team #1, Brixner Junior High School (Molly Buldock, Kayla Hadden, Amber Lease, Jesse Sundet)
3rd place – Mathsters, Roosevelt Elementary School (Brin Rey, Adam Rooney, Daniel Slinker, Jacob Slinker)
Oregon Tech Competition (non-official)
Individual
1st place – Samantha Clark, Hosanna Christian School
2nd place – Alaina Cillis, Ponderosa Junior High School
3rd place – Nate Beckstrand, Hosanna Christian School
Team
1st place – Hosanna Team #2, Hosanna Christian School (Nate Beckstrand, Tyler Caster, Samantha Clark, Daniel Cooper)
2nd place – Pie2, Ponderosa Junior High School (Alaina Cillis, Michaela Garcelon, Cindy Reed, Vanessa Sanchez)
3rd place – Tulelake Team #1, Tulelake High School (Kaitlin Hartung, Kevin King, D’Anna Massey, Tanner Weaver)
Oregon Tech scholarships were also awarded to the top three overall competitors:
Samantha Clark, Hosanna Christian School ($2,500 scholarship)
Meghan Riechmann, Ponderosa Junior High School ($1,500 scholarship)
Logan Phillips, Ponderosa Junior High School ($1,000 scholarship)
Oregon Tech mathematics professors Jim Fischer and Gregg Waterman served as the main facilitators for this event. The event was coordinated by Stephanie Hanson, Youth Programs Coordinator.
Additional Information about MATHCOUNTS:
To secure America's global competitiveness, MATHCOUNTS inspires excellence, confidence and curiosity in U.S. middle school students through fun and challenging math programs. With the generous support of all MATHCOUNTS sponsors and volunteers, and leadership of the National Society of Professional Engineers at the local and state levels, MATHCOUNTS is providing today’s students with the foundation for success in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers.
Currently in their 28th year, MATHCOUNTS is one of the nation’s largest and most successful education partnerships involving volunteers, educators, industry sponsors and students. President Barack Obama and former Presidents George W. Bush, William J. Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Ronald W. Reagan have all recognized MATHCOUNTS in White House ceremonies. The MATHCOUNTS program has also received two White House citations as an outstanding private sector initiative. Particularly exciting for our Mathletes® were the hour-long ESPN programs on each of the National Competitions from 2003-2005.
