Math Club takes top prize at conference
The Georgia College & State University Math Club won first place in a math competition at the Mercer University Undergraduate Research in Mathematics Conference on April 15 and 16.
Other schools that participated in the event were Mercer University, Georgia Southern University, State University of West Georgia and Carson Newman College, said Dr. Laurie Elder, faculty advisor for the Math Club.
"Nine members of GC&SU's Math Club [official title: Student Chapter of the Mathematical Association of America] attended the conference," Elder said.
The nine students involved were Sarah Baker, Kevin Bustabad,Sean Conway, Allen Hoffmeyer, Tommy Lewis, Patrick Noren, Brandon Walker, Jessica Wehner and Joseph White, Elder said.
Senior Sarah Baker said the competition was based on a set of five questions that were given to each participating group.
"Teams were divided into groups of three--there were three Georgia College groups. Each group was given the same
five questions, in which we had an hour to answer," Baker said.
Junior Allen Hoffmeyer said that the competition was based on a wide array of math skills.
"The competition consisted of five questions in topics ranging from abstract algebra to set theory to calculus," Hoffmeyer said.
"The competition was scored by different professors of Mathematics, some from Mercer and some from other schools," Hoffmeyer said.
Baker said she was happy to see one of the GC&SU teams come out on top.
"My group of three actually didn't win the competition. The group that won consisted of Joseph White, Thomas Lewis, and Allen Hoffmeyer," Baker said.
"But I was thrilled to learn that one of the groups representing Georgia College won."
Aside from the competition, the two-day event included informative public speakers and presentations, Baker said.
"I thought that the keynote speaker's presentation on mathematics use in biology and other sciences was very interesting and informative. I never really thought of mathematics being used in some of the ways that he described," Baker said.
Both Hoffmeyer and Baker said this win is significant for the math department.
"I think it helps emphasize how great the Math department is," Hoffmeyer said.
Baker said that the win also emphasizes the hard work that the students and faculty put into the department, as well as their collaboration.
"It shows the type of dedication that the students and faculty of Georgia College have," Baker said. "For the team to win, they really had to cooperate together and to think as a team and not individually. It really required that each team member use his/her own expertise to help solve each problem."
Elder was very pleased with the performance the GC&SU students gave.
"All students who participated were excellent representatives of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science," Elder said. "In particular, the first place award was a strong indication of the talent of our students and a positive refection, in a professional setting, of the Mathematics Program at GC&SU."
"I think it helps emphasize how great the Math department is," Hoffmeyer said.
Baker said that the win also emphasizes the hard work that the students and faculty put into the department, as well as their collaboration.
"It shows the type of dedication that the students and faculty of Georgia College have," Baker said. "For the team to win, they really had to cooperate together and to think as a team and not individually. It really required that each team member use his/her own expertise to help solve each problem."
Elder was very pleased with the performance the GC&SU students gave.
"All students who participated were excellent representatives of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science," Elder said. "In particular, the first place award was a strong indication of the talent of our students and a positive refection, in a professional setting, of the Mathematics Program at GC&SU."
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