Our State’s Mathletes are READY…The ‘Playoffs’ are Set to Begin!
More than 900 Student Mathletes will soon compete against their peers in chapter and state competitions, to determine which team & individuals will represent our state at the National MATHCOUNTS Competition in May. Here’s how YOU can be part of the success on their journey to represent our state in the National Match-up:
Simply VOLUNTEER 3 to 4 hours of your time – at just one competition, or more!
Nearly 100 volunteers are needed to support 6 Chapter Competitions at 6 testing sites throughout the state, as well as the State Competition. No experience is necessary; you must simply be over 21 and not related to a competing student. The time commitment is just 3 to 4 hours, and volunteers serve as proctors or scorers for the competition(s) they choose to support. See the Competition Schedule below.
If You Cannot Volunteer in Person…
The six state-wide chapter competitions depend on donations to provide: Food for 900+ students; Trophies for Chapter & State winners; Team Massachusetts T-shirts, Supplies & Postage. Your tax-deductible support of ANY size will greatly benefit the students, and be recognized by more than 1,000 people – including students, parents, volunteers, and perhaps even the media.
A Personal Appeal from John Hayden,
Massachusetts MATHCOUNTS State Coordinator
Every year since 1996, I have witnessed and experienced first-hand the incredible satisfaction of watching middle school students grow to become vital problem solvers, well-positioned to enhance their communities, their professions*, and indeed our world.
MATHCOUNTS is a grass roots program run mostly by volunteers. Across the state, myself and 6 chapter coordinators organize and run the 6 chapter competitions and the state competition, assisted by nearly 100 volunteers. Last year, (2014-2015) we served 904 students, representing 121 schools.
Like most grass roots programs, we depend on the support of volunteers and donors. Please consider volunteering, or giving to the program, or at the very least, helping to get the word out. Please go home today and determine who the math coordinator or math teacher is at your local middle school and contact them to see if they participate in the program. If they do, thank them and offer any assistance you are comfortable with. If not, find out why. Send them to the mathcounts.org website or have them contact me personally.
On behalf of the students, thank you for your consideration and support.
Sincerely,
John Hayden, PE
Senior Transportation Engineer | Stantec Consulting Services
Director, Massachusetts Society of Professional Engineers
MATHCOUNTS State Coordinator
* Students exposed to MATHCOUNTS programs are more likely to work and contribute to the STEM fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.