IMSA MATH CLUB RECEIVES NATIONAL DIANE RUBIN AWARD
For Immediate Release, Press Release
For comment, contact Brenda Buschbacher at
(630) 907-5033
IMSA® MATH CLUB RECEIVES NATIONAL DIANE RUBIN AWARD
AURORA – The Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) Mu Alpha Theta club received the Diane Rubin Chapter Award for a history of promoting interest in and delivering outstanding mathematics service to its community.
For 17 years, IMSA’s student-run Mu Alpha Theta chapter has hosted and organized the annual Junior High Math Contest in March for hundreds of students from more than 20 middle/junior high schools throughout the Chicagoland area. Coordination of the event includes activities such as publicity, question-writing, specialized mailings to invited schools and many other logistical details. In addition, Mu Alpha Theta students help to write, edit and choose practice and competition questions under the guidance and direction of Mathematics faculty member Dr. Steven Condie of Naperville.
“The energy of this day sparks and fans interest in mathematics, and for some, instills the idea of pursuing more mathematics,” said Mu Alpha Theta co-sponsor Dr. Janice Krouse of Geneva. “Many schools return year after year because of the quality experience consistently provided by IMSA students.”
The Junior High Math Contest includes five competitions: 7th grade individual, 8th grade individual, 7th grade team, 8th grade team and Creative Thinking (a pairs contest). Twenty original questions are created for each category and five for the Creative Thinking category. On the day of the event, Mu Alpha Theta members host an opening ceremony, proctor contest rooms, grade completed contests and electronically record results. The day also concludes with a formal awards ceremony.
Established in 2004 by the Governing Council of Mu Alpha Theta, this annual award was named in honor of Diane Rubin who worked tirelessly at the National Office of Mu Alpha Theta for 20 years before her retirement.
IMSA Mu Alpha Theta mathematics faculty co-sponsors are Dr. Janice Krouse of Geneva and Namrata Pandya of Naperville. Mathematics faculty member Dr. Steven Condie of Naperville proofs questions and runs the grading room during the JHMC.
As a result of winning the Rubin award, IMSA’s Mu Alpha Theta club received a prize, plaque and registrations to the National Mu Alpha Theta convention in July 2007.
The internationally recognized Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy® (IMSA) develops creative, ethical leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. As a teaching and learning laboratory created by the State of Illinois, IMSA enrolls academically talented Illinois students (grades 10-12) in its advanced, residential college preparatory program. It also serves thousands of educators and students in Illinois and beyond through innovative instructional programs that foster imagination and inquiry. (www.imsa.edu)