On February 17th, the Kansas Academy of Math and Science, located at Fort Hays State University, competed in the American Mathematics Competition. The AMC is an examination in secondary school mathematics containing problems that can be understood and solved with algebra and geometry concepts. The purpose of this competition is to spur interest in mathematics and develop talent through the excitement of solving challenging problems. Students will have 75 minutes to complete the 25-question test.
Students who participate in the AMC 10/12 should find that most of the problems are challenging but within their grasp. The contest is intended for everyone from the average student at a typical school who enjoys mathematics to the very best student at the most special school.
Competition organizer, Roger Schieferecke explained a more about the process of the test; “Once the exam is over, I will send the scoring sheets to the MAA national office and they will score the exams. If students score high enough, top 5% of all AMC test takers, they will qualify to take the AIME (American Invitational Mathematics Exam) exam which is the next level of competition.”
Schieferecke, Director of the KAMS program at FHSU, says that most of the KAMS students participate in the exam. Additionally, they extend invitations to other local schools to participate.
This is Schieferecke’s second year organizing the competition. He said last year one student; Chaeyeon Kim earned the second-highest score in the state and qualified to take the AIME. Kim is a competitor who will be returning to take the test again this year and has hopes of earning the highest score in the state.
The competition is an incredible opportunity for KAMS students as well as for FHSU. Schieferecke says, “[the AMC] benefits FHSU by bringing more recognition to the university. The examination also has the possibility of bringing prospective students to campus. The KAMS students view this competition as another opportunity for engagement and involvement which is something that FHSU does very well.”