Source: Tom Muenzenberger, 785-532-0557, muenz@math.ksu.edu

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

RESULTS FROM PUTNAM MATHEMATICAL COMPETITION ADD UP TO HIGH FINISH FOR K-STATE TEAM

MANHATTAN -- Six Kansas State University students have placed highly in an international mathematics competition.

The Mathematical Association of America recently announced the results of the 71st annual Putnam Mathematical Competition, the most prestigious mathematics contest for undergraduates at colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

The team from K-State finished in the top 26 percent among the 546 colleges and universities participating in the competition.

Nearly 4,300 students participated in the event. K-State had two team members place in the top 14 percent of the competition; one who finished in the top 18 percent; and three in the top 39 percent.

Team members and their individual placements include:

Brian Moore, senior in electrical engineering and mathematics, Hutchinson, top 14 percent; James Bailey, senior in industrial engineering and mathematics, Leavenworth, top 39 percent; Michael Batrick, senior in chemical engineering and mathematics, Overland Park, top 18 percent; Hunter Ellsworth, senior in mechanical engineering and mathematics, Topeka, top 39 percent.

From out of state: Jonathan Stacks, junior in computer engineering and mathematics, Lee's Summit, Mo., top 39 percent.

From out of country: Hui Cao, senior in mathematics, Beijing, top 14 percent.

Coaches for K-State's Putnam competition team include department of mathematics faculty members David Auckly, Ivan Blank, Ricardo Castano-Bernard, Todd Cochrane, Louis Crane, Xiang Fang, Zongzhu Lin, Diego Maldonado, Tom Muenzenberger, Gabriel Nagy, Virginia Naibo, Christopher Pinner, Pietro Poggi-Corradini, Craig Spencer, Victor Turchin, Dan Volok and Ilia Zharkov.