MAA Student Activities Report

The annual MAA Texas Section meeting for 2006, at Midwestern State University , included a variety of well attended student related activities:

1. A total of 99 undergraduate students and 33 graduate students registered for

the meetings.

2. Cindy Naples, head of the Student Papers subcommittee reported that:

a. For the second year in a row the number of student papers and paper sessions exceeded the number of faculty papers and sessions. There were 6 student paper sessions with 48 papers (4 Faculty sessions). Each session included undergraduate and graduate student talks so judges awarded prizes for outstanding presentations in both categories. The subcommittee wishes to thank the program organizers for distributing presenters from the same school to different sessions.

b. Winners of awards for outstanding presentations:

Shelly Keith, Sam Houston State, undergraduate

Curtis Kunkel, Baylor, graduate

Stephanie Anderson, St. Edward’s University, undergraduate

Tarcia Jones, Stephen F. Austin, graduate

Jenny Tompkins, UT- Tyler, undergraduate

Jung Wang, Sam Houston State, graduate

Fred Poage, Stephen F. Austin, undergraduate

Kenneth Reddix, Stephen F. Austin, graduate

W. Max Jopnes, University of North Texas, undergraduate

Patrick Sugue, Stephen F. Austin, graduate

Fred Deutsch, St. Edward’s University, undergraduate

Joufeng Nie, Sam Houston State, graduate

Winners received the CD collection of

Martin Gardner’s Mathematical Games.

Cindy wishes to thank all those who took part in the evaluation of student talks and the selection of the outstanding presentation award winners. Judges included, Jean Mckemie, Pam Roberson, David Naples, Cindy Naples, Michael Engquist, Carl Seaquist and Michael Sacolo.

The committee is always looking for more judges. Anyone interested in serving as a judge is asked to contact Cindy Naples at cynthian@stedwards.edu

3. 18 teams from 12 different schools took part in the Thursday evening –Problem

Solving Carnival. A number pf awards were given to outstanding teams.

4. The Student Talk on the Mathematics of Games , by Jerry Dwyer, was very

well attended with over 40 students involved.

5. Pam Roberson, coordinator of the MAA Student Chapters Breakfast

noted that approximately 40 student and faculty representatives attend the

working breakfast.

6. The always popular Pizza and Puzzle Party attracted approximately 100 student

and faculty participants.

7. Jackie Jensen from Sam Houston State University was recognized with the

MAA Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to Students.

The Student Activities Committee is always looking for new ideas and members.

Subcommittees include: Student Papers and Awards, Pizza and Puzzle Party, Publicity and Web site, Special Student Competitions (such as the Calculus Bowl, etc…), and Student Forum/ Student Workshops . Please contact Ron Barnes at

barnes@dt.uh.edu if you have any ideas or interest in taking part in any of these subcommittees.