NW Iowa News

Dordt University issued the following announcement on November 2.

More than 200 high school students from 14 area high schools competed in the Dordt University Math Challenge on Thursday, October 21.

Students tested their mathematical creativity with novel problems on two exams. They also engaged in breakout sessions that were led by Dordt mathematics and statistics professors with assistance from secondary mathematics education majors.

“Part of Dordt’s mission is to equip the broader community, so we are called to bring the joy of God’s gift of mathematics to area high school students,” says Dr. Tom Clark, who teaches mathematics at Dordt. “We can help them realize how creative mathematical problem solving can be and experience the breadth of mathematics. The event also gives our math-education majors a chance to interact with students and develop as teachers in training.”

During the breakout sessions, students used math to decipher clues related to a murder mystery; explored puzzles related to infinity; and learned about the math behind games involving dice. Students played a reenacting game involving the use of mathematics and physics that govern the atmosphere that predicted weather patterns decades before the first computers were developed. A session led by a K-12 outreach member of the National Security Agency taught students basic cryptology terminology and techniques. The students also recreated Galileo’s experiments using bowling balls in Dordt’s engineering high bay. Students also received a tour of Dordt University’s campus with an Admissions Office tour guide.

“All in all, it’s our hope that these students come away thinking that Dordt is a place where they will find a meaningful challenge and be supported for success,” says Clark.

Participating Schools

Brandon Valley High School: Brandon, South Dakota

Lawton-Bronson High School: Lawton, Iowa

MOC-FV High School: Orange City, Iowa

Parker High School: Parker, South Dakota

River Valley High School: Correctionville, Iowa

Sioux Center High School: Sioux Center, Iowa

Sioux City West High School: Sioux City, Iowa

Sioux Falls Christian High School: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Sioux Falls Lutheran High School: Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Southwest Minnesota Christian High School: Edgerton, Minnesota

Unity Christian High School: Orange City, Iowa

West Monona High School: Onawa, Iowa

Western Christian High School: Hull, Iowa

Individual results

Ninth grade:

1. Parker High School
2. Western Christian High School
3. Brandon Valley High School

Tenth grade:

1. Unity Christian High School (Tie)

   Western Christian High School (Tie)

2. Sioux Center High School

Eleventh grade:

1. Brandon Valley High School
2. Western Christian High School
3. Brandon Valley High School

Twelfth grade:

1. Unity Christian High School
2. Unity Christian High School (Tie)

   Brandon Valley High School (Tie)

Team results

1. Unity Christian High School
2. Brandon Valley High School
3. Lawton-Bronson High School

As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University seeks to equip students, faculty, alumni, and the broader community to work toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life. Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa, is a comprehensive college named to the best college lists by The Wall Street Journal, U.S. News & World Report, Forbes.com, Washington Monthly, and Princeton Review. To learn more about Dordt University, visit dordt.edu.

Original source can be found here.