July 8, 2009
Contributed by Thomas Yoshida
"The competition brings out the best from the students and helps them academically," said Calvin Fukuhara, Kamehameha Schools Kapālama teacher and math team advisor. "They learn to solve complex math questions as a team, which elevates their technical skills. Students enjoy a strong support network after spending so many hours practicing with one another."
Held annually in the summer, the Mu Alpha Theta competition features a wide variety of contests, including team and individual math subject exams, multiple choice tests and even a speech competition.
Fukuhara said approximately 50 schools are expected to participate. Last year, Kamehameha finished 13th, placing in the top 15 for the 10th consecutive year. The team hopes to crack the top 10 this year.
"The students have been working so hard for this," Fukuhara said. "They spend about four hours a week practicing. I admire their dedication and perseverance."
The convention runs from July 19 through July 24, at the Knoxville Convention Center in Knoxville, Tenn. Hundreds of students are expected to compete.
Mu Alpha Theta is the national high school and two-year college mathematics honor society with approximately 75,000 student members from more than 1,500 schools across the U.S. It's dedicated to inspiring and promoting interest and enjoyment of mathematics. For more information, visit www.mualphatheta.org.
Kamehameha Schools is a private, educational, charitable trust founded and endowed by the legacy of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Kamehameha Schools operates a statewide educational system enrolling more than 6,700 students of Hawaiian ancestry at K-12 campuses on O'ahu, Maui and Hawai'i and 31 preschool sites statewide. Thousands of additional Hawaiian learners are served each year through a range of other Kamehameha Schools' outreach programs, community collaborations and financial aid opportunities in Hawai'i and across the continental United States.
Kamehameha Schools’ policy is to give preference to applicants of Hawaiian ancestry to the extent permitted by law.
