Competition at Regional High School Mathematics Contest makes math fun

Competition at Regional High School Mathematics Contest makes math fun

La GRANDE, Ore. – Six regional young people were each presented with a $1,000 Eastern Oregon University (EOU) scholarship during an award ceremony that concluded a day of testing and friendly competition during the annual Regional High School Mathematics Contest. 

The math contest was hosted by EOU on Tuesday, April 18, attracting 150 area young people from 9 different schools to the La Grande campus.

The EOU mathematics program hosts the annual event that is in its 35th year. EOU faculty, staff, and students volunteer to coordinate the event for regional high school students and their teachers to attend. 

Students participate in state qualifying tests before taking part in math contests that include a “Math Bee,” and a “Solve That Problem” event, based on the old “Name That Tune” game show,  that scores teams on the speed with which they can solve complex mathematical problems.  

Before the award ceremony, students participated in a “Math Relay Race” that combined physical fitness and problem-solving skills. 

“Any opportunity to get together and have fun with mathematics is ideal,” EOU Associate Professor of  Mathematics Steve Tanner said. “Our main purpose is to identify top performing students and invite them to the state competition.” 

Regional high schools that participated include Burnt River High School, Enterprise High School, Heppner High School, La Grande High School, Imbler High School, Ontario High School, Union High School, Cove High School, and Union County Home School.

Imbler High School walked away with top honors in the small school category and the Enterprise High School team took top honors for the large school category. 

Scholarship winners included Tyler Leathers, Union High School, Enjie Fan, La Grande High School, Olivia Thornburg, Union County Homeschoolers, Rowan Hassinger, Cove High School, Azat Kossanov, Burnt River High School, and Weston Durfee, La Grande High School. Each scholarship winner was presented with a $1,000 EOU. scholarship award for excellence during the Eastern Oregon University Regional Mathematics Competition.