Source: Todd Cochrane, 785-532-0565, cochrane@k-state.edu
Web site: http://www.math.ksu.edu/main/events/parker-mathcomp
News release prepared by: Beth Bohn, 785-532-2535, bbohn@k-state.edu

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

K-STATE STUDENTS EARN CASH AWARDS IN S. THOMAS PARKER MATHEMATICS COMPETITION

MANHATTAN -- Two Kansas State University students are sharing top honors in the 12th annual S. Thomas Parker Mathematics Competition.

This year's event was April 10 and had 13 participants. The competition, part of the national annual observance of Mathematics Awareness Month, is to encourage K-State students to strengthen their mathematical skills and to promote mathematics education among students. It is open to all full-time K-State students who are in their first two years of college. Participants are given three hours to solve four problems in mathematics ranging from high-school level mathematics to the first two years of collegiate mathematics. Cash prizes are awarded to the winners.

The competition is funded by the S. Thomas Parker endowment and the K-State Math-Club and is organized by a committee of four K-State mathematics professors.

Receiving honors in this year's S. Thomas Parker Mathematics Competition are:

Trent Thurston, junior in mechanical engineering, Hutchinson, first-place tie, $250; Brandon Brunner, sophomore in mathematics and electrical engineering, honorable mention, $20, and Chenhui Liu, junior in mathematics, honorable mention, $20, both from Manhattan; Grant Wilson, sophomore in mathematics and computer science, Overland Park, honorable mention, $20; and Corey Glaser, sophomore in mathematics and electrical engineering, Wichita, third place, $100.

From out of state: Jonathan Stacks, sophomore in mathematics and computer engineering, Lee's Summit, Mo., first-place tie, $250.

The awards will be presented at the annual Friends of Mathematics Banquet, Tuesday, April 27, at the K-State Union. In addition to the cash award and personal certificate, each Parker Competition winner also receives a framed certificate to be posted in a student organization of his or her choice, honoring its member's achievement.

More information about the S. Thomas Parker Mathematics Competition is available at http://www.math.ksu.edu/main/events/parker-mathcomp or by calling the department of mathematics at 785-532-6750.