For Immediate Release

Contact: Gene Stuffle  282-3950  or  Richard Feuerborn  234-0044

Local Student Mathletes® To Compete In Local Math Contest

Pocatello, Feb 12, 2005 — Middle school Mathletes® from Southeast Idaho schools will compete in local contests of the national MATHCOUNTS program on Feb. 12 at ISU in Pocatello. The competition has been organized by the Idaho Society of Professional Engineers, SE Chapter.

A total of 18 schools and 124 students will compete. Schools represented are:

Bear Lake Middle School, Montpelier

Calvary Chapel Christian School, Idaho Falls

Clair E Gale Junior High School, Idaho Falls

Eagle Rock Junior High School, Idaho Falls

Firth Middle School, Firth

Franklin Middle School, Pocatello

Hawthorne Middle School, Pocatello

Irving Junior High School, Pocatello

Madison Junior High School, Rexburg

Malad Middle School, Malad

Mountainview Middle School, Blackfoot

Pocatello Community Charter School, Pocatello

Preston Junior High School, Preston

Ririe Middle School, Ririe

Rocky Mountain Middle School, Idaho Falls

Sandcreek Middle School, Idaho Falls

South Fremont Jr High School, Saint Anthony

Taylorview Junior High School, Idaho Falls

Teachers and students have been preparing for the competition since the fall. Students will compete individually and as teams in written and fast-paced oral matches. Subjects include algebra, probability, statistics and geometry. Winners will receive engineering scholarships to ISU, and will advance to the state MATHCOUNTS finals, to be held at Boise State University on March 5.

MATHCOUNTS is a national program designed to improve math skills among U.S. students. The program focuses on middle school students, who are at a crucial stage in developing and sustaining math interest and ability.

Celebrating its 22nd Anniversary, the 2005 MATHCOUNTS competition will consist of approximately 37,000 students, representing more than 6,000 schools from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U. S. territories and Department of Defense and State Department affiliated schools.

Local sponsors include the Eastern Idaho Section of the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers, INL, ISU College of Engineering, Basic American Foods, and many area engineering firms. Supplies have been donated by Bangs Office Supply.

MATHCOUNTS’ Founding Sponsors are the CNA Foundation, the National Society of Professional Engineers and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. National Sponsors also include ADC Foundation, General Motors Foundation, Lockheed Martin, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Texas Instruments Incorporated and 3M Foundation.

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