Source: Virginia Naibo, 785-532-0544, vnaibo@math.ksu.edu

Thursday, May 14, 2009

K-STATE STUDENT FINISHES FIRST AND K-STATE TEAM TIES FOR FIRST IN THE 2009 KANSAS COLLEGIATE MATHEMATICS COMPETITION

MANHATTAN -- A team from Kansas State University placed first in a three-way tie with a team from Emporia State University and a team from the University of Kansas at the recent 2009 Kansas Collegiate Mathematics Competition.

Also at the competition, a K-State student finished first individually, while another K-State student finished in a four-way tie for second with two students from Emporia State and one from KU.

This was the fifth year in a row that a K-State student finished first in the competition, and the fourth time in the last five years that a K-State team finished first in the competition, according to Virginia Naibo, assistant professor of mathematics at K-State and K-State team coach.

A second K-State team finished fifth in the competition.

The competition was part of the Kansas section meeting of the Mathematical Association of America, which was at Pittsburg State University.

Along with K-State, teams taking part in the competition included Baker University, Fort Hays State University, Emporia State and KU.

Members of the K-State teams and their competition honors included:

Shane Scott, freshman in mathematics and physics, Dodge City, was a member of the first-place team.

From Manhattan: Hui Cao, senior in mathematics, finished first individually and was a member of the first-place team; and Mike Reppert, senior in biochemistry, chemistry and mathematics, tied for second place individually and was a member of the fifth-place team.

From Overland Park: Will Carlson, senior in mathematics, was a member of the fifth-place team; and Daniel Czerniewski, senior in computer science and mathematics, was a member of the first-place team.

Sam Henke, senior in computer science and mathematics, Salina, was a member of the fifth-place team.