Published: 02/09/2023
MATHCOUNTS is a national middle school mathematics competition featuring four fun and unique levels of “bee”-style contests.
ERIE, PA. (Feb. 8, 2023) — Middle school students from Erie area schools will compete in the MATHCOUNTS® Competition Series, the nation’s premier math competition, on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at Gannon University, Zurn Science Center, 109 University Square, Erie, PA 16541. The Erie competition has been organized by members of the Erie Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers and Gannon University.
A total of 94 Mathletes from 13 local schools will compete. Schools represented are:
| School | City |
|---|
| James W Parker Middle School | Edinboro |
| Fort Leboeuf Middle School | Waterford |
| Erie Day School | Erie |
| Saint George Catholic School | Erie |
| Saint James School | Erie |
| Our Lady Of Peace School | Erie |
| James S Wilson Middle School | Erie |
| Johnsonburg Elementary School | Johnsonburg |
| Johnsonburg High School | Johnsonburg |
| Harbor Creek Junior High School | Harborcreek |
| Walnut Creek Middle School | Fairview |
| North East Middle School | North East |
Teachers and students have been preparing for this prestigious competition since the fall. Students will compete individually and in teams on both written and oral matches. The top students will advance to the Pennsylvania MATHCOUNTS State Competition at the Sheraton Harrisburg–Hershey Hotel in Harrisburg, PA on March 17–18.
“Two major predictors of engagement in STEM fields are gaining confidence in your own abilities and finding the subjects enjoyable. The MATHCOUNTS competition is important because it provides a fun way for students to challenge themselves and build that sense of self-efficacy as they move through the competition rounds together. Supporting enrichment opportunities like MATHCOUNTS is really central to Gannon’s commitment to celebrating and encouraging talented learners from across the Erie region. It’s going to be a lot of fun!” said Lisa Nogaj, Ph.D., associate dean of Gannon’s School of Sciences and professor of its Chemistry and Biochemistry Department.
MATHCOUNTS is a national program with the mission to build confidence and improve attitudes about math and problem solving. The program focuses on middle school students, who are at a crucial stage for cultivating their interests and math skills. Without developing strong problem-solving skills, students face an uphill battle in pursuing science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) careers of the future.
The Competition Series will consist of over 100,000 students, representing more than 5,200 schools from every U.S. state and territory, plus schools affiliated with the Department of Defense and State Department.
The Erie program is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Society of Professional Engineers, Gannon University, the Erie Engineering Societies Council and more.
The National Sponsors of MATHCOUNTS Foundation are Raytheon Technologies, U.S. Department of Defense STEM, Northrop Grumman Foundation, the National Society of Professional Engineers, 3Mgives, Texas Instruments Incorporated and Art of Problem Solving. MATHCOUNTS was founded by the National Society of Professional Engineers, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics and CNA Insurance.
About MATHCOUNTS Foundation:
MATHCOUNTS is a nonprofit organization that strives to engage middle school students of all ability and interest levels in fun, challenging math programs, in order to expand their academic and professional opportunities. Middle school students exist at a critical juncture in which their love for mathematics must be nurtured, or their fear of mathematics must be overcome. For more than 30 years, MATHCOUNTS has provided free, high-quality resources to educators and enriching, extracurricular opportunities to students to lay a foundation for future success. Materials and information are available at www.mathcounts.org. Follow @MATHCOUNTS on Twitter.
About Gannon University:
Gannon University is a Catholic, diocesan university with campuses in Erie, Pennsylvania, and Ruskin, Florida, offering online and traditional associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programs to more than 4,700 academically talented and diverse students.
Gannon University is dedicated to excellence in teaching, scholarship and service. Inspired by the Catholic Intellectual Tradition, the University offers a comprehensive, values-centered learning experience that emphasizes faith, leadership, inclusiveness and social responsibility.