Southwest Baptist University News
Release
Contact:
Charlotte Marsch, Director of Marketing and Communications
(417)
328-1803 / cmarsch@sbuniv.edu
BOLIVAR, Mo. — Southwest Baptist University’s
Mathematics Department hosted more than 700 elementary and middle school
students in Bolivar Jan. 19 and 26 as they competed in a math contest that is
designed to promote the enjoyment of math and help students prepare for bigger
math competitions later in the school year.
“The
MathCounts competition is in February, and we are a regional host site for the Missouri
Council of Teachers of Mathematics competition in April,” said Dr. Kevin
Hopkins, chair of the SBU Mathematics Department. “While those competitions
limit the number of students who can participate at each grade level, this
competition that we organize each year in January allows everyone to
participate. We also provide more immediate feedback with the tests, making the
event a better learning experience for the students.”
The
competition for students in third through eighth grades included 704 students
from 48 schools from Kansas City, Carthage, Dallas County,
Fairview, Fordland, Greenwood Lab School, Neosho, Nevada, School of the Osage,
St. Lawrence Catholic School, Summit Prep, Thomas Jefferson, Aurora, Bolivar,
Branson, Camdenton, Oak Ridge, Nixa, Springfield, Joplin, Lamar,
Logan-Rogersville, Marshfield, Rolla and Wheaton.
“The
students who excel in mathematics get very few opportunities to shine in a sports
town,” said Lori Herring with Marshfield Schools. “The contest at SBU offers a
venue for math enthusiasts to ‘shine.’” Her students said the contest was a fun
way to learn math concepts that would not have reached yet in the classroom.
Third- and
fourth-graders complete individual tests in concepts and problem-solving.
Fifth- and sixth-grade students compete in those tests, as well as a team test.
Seventh- and eighth-grade students complete the two individual tests, as well
as a test formatted similarly to the MathCounts program and a team competition.
“The
Southwest Baptist University mathematic's staff, along with SBU mathematics
majors and Dr. Hopkin's family, does an excellent job of putting together this
contest,” said Charles McCalla, who brings a group of students from Kansas City
each year. “Every time a student takes a timed test it is an excellent
opportunity to test their skills and improve on their test-taking
skills. Whether they win or lose in the competition I believe every
student is a winner in that they have learned test-taking skills and they
get an evaluation where their mathematics skills are in relation to other
students in this area.”
The program
also introduces young students to the atmosphere of a college campus. Beth
Grabowski, gifted education instructor at Bolivar Intermediate School, said her
youngest students enjoyed eating ice cream while eating lunch in the
University’s cafeteria and others expressed excitement about the competition
and being on the SBU campus.
“One
third-grader said, ‘I was going to go to another college, but now I think I
might come to SBU,’” she said. “And another, on finding out his picture would
be in the newspaper after the school awards assembly, said, ‘We are going to be
famous!’”
About 10
SBU students assisted with grading competition tests.
SBU will
host a Missouri Council of Teachers of Mathematics regional competition April
13. Hopkins also will host three one-week Math Contest Camps for students
entering fifth-12th grades this summer. For more information about
either event, contact Hopkins at 328-1675 or khopkins@sbuniv.edu. Go to sites.google.com/site/sbumathcon/math-contest-camp-2013 for more
information about the camps.
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Southwest
Baptist University is a leader among private universities in truly integrating
Christ-centered academic pursuits with comprehensive professional programs at
an affordable price. At SBU, the faculty and staff create a caring, academic
community to prepare students to be servant leaders in a global socity. For
more information, visit www.SBUniv.edu.
