Sonia Kovalvsky High School Mathematics Days

Sonia Kovalevsky Mathematics Days

From AWM Newsletter, Vol. 30, No. 1, January-February 2000.

WOLF CREEK SUPPORTS ESU'S FIFTH SK MATH DAY

This year Emporia State University's Division of Mathematics and Computer Science hosted its fifth Sonia Kovalevsky Mathematics Day on February 18, 1999. Fifty-one students and seventeen teachers from southeast Kansas participated in this event. For the third year, this conference was made possible by a grant from Wolf Creek Nuclear Operating Corporation.

The day began with registration and a continental breakfast. Marvin Harrell and Betsy Yanik, program organizers, welcomed the participants to the day's events. Dr. Larry Scott, Chair of Emporia State's Division of Mathematics and Computer Science welcomed the attendees to the university and congratulated the young women on their success in high school mathematics.

During the morning's activities, each young woman selected one of four hands-on workshops. The choice of workshops included "The Power of Numbers" presented by Maxine Pennington and Debbie Hinkle, both of Allied Signal FM&T, "Soap Bubbles and Minimization" presented by Monica Meissen of Bethel College, "Estimation to Answer the Nearly Impossible" presented by Jean Morrow of ESU, and "Balance, Bounce, and Jump into Modeling" presented by Betsy Yanik of ESU. While the students were engaged in these workshops, their teachers participated in a session entitled "Reform Calculus" led by Joe Yanik of ESU. Students and teachers jointly attended a career discussion session which was led by panelists Marcy Blow and Kathy Davis of Wolf Creek, Debbie Hinkle of Allied Signal, and Patty Delmott of the ESU Computing Center. Each career speaker described her job, discussed how mathematics is used in her daily work, and shared personal experiences about life as a professional woman. The morning concluded with the session "Game Shows with Math," which was developed and hosted by undergraduate ESU mathematics majors. Participants were grouped at tables in teams of four or five and played "Wheel of Fortune" with mathematical phrases and names. The teams with the highest overall scores were allowed to lead the luncheon pasta buffet line. Bonnie Johnson, the director of the Aerodynamic Laboratories for the National Institute for Aviation Research at Wichita State University presented the invited address at the luncheon. She led a lively discussion on the impact of wind tunnel studies relating to airplane, race car, and motorcycle designs. Again in the afternoon, the young women attended another of the four workshops. The teachers experimented with a variety of calculus computer laboratory exercises. At the end of the day, a social was held at which refreshments were served and participation certificates were awarded.

Both the young women and their teachers expressed their enthusiasm about the conference. These results were gratifying, and plans are underway for next year's conference. Pending funding, the tentative date for the 2000 ESU Sonia Kovalevsky Day is February 17. We would like to extend our gratitude to WCNOC and the guest speakers for their participation. Without them, this day would not have been possible.