Several Marion Community Schools students showed off their math skills to a national audience recently, competing at the Mu Alpha Theta National Convention, where two MHS students and and two MHS instructors earned individual awards, six in total.
23 members of the Marion High School chapter of Mu Alpha Theta, an international mathematics honor society, attended the convention in Orlando, Fla., July 6-11. At the conference, hundreds of students from around the country participated in a variety of competitions as individuals and teams. As a team the Giants finished an impressive 13th overall out of 43 schools. Marion High School was the only school in the Midwest competing this year.
Those earning individual honors from MHS were:
- Austin Ferren, Class of 2025, who placed 9th in two separate competitions: Open Number Theory, and Open Discrete Math
- Lennon Cordell, senior, who placed 10th in the Mu Gemini competition
- MHS math teacher Doug Porter, who placed 7th in Theta Sponsor Speed Math competition
- MHS math teacher Dr. Angela Sellers, who placed 8th in two separate competitions: Alpha Sponsor Speed Math, and Alpha Sponsor Mental Math
Individual award winners and four-year competitors from Marion High School Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Society pose for a photo during the national convention and competition July 6-11 in Orlando, Fla. They are, from left, Noah Gilreath, MHS Class of 2025, who competed all four years at MHS; Lennon Cordell, MHS senior, who placed 10th in the Mu Gemini competition; Doug Porter, MHS math teacher and Mu Alpha Theta sponsor, who placed 7th in Theta Sponsor Speed Math competition; Abigail Crouch, MHS Class of 2025, who competed all four years at MHS; Angela Sellers, MHS math teacher and Mu Alpha Theta sponsor, who placed 8th in two separate competitions: Alpha Sponsor Speed Math, and Alpha Sponsor Mental Math; and Austin Ferren, MHS Class of 2025, who placed 9th in two separate competitions: Open Number Theory, and Open Discrete Math.
The conference also featured workshops, social events and other activities — including trips to area attractions — as well as award ceremonies. Marion High School has been competing at this national event for about a decade.
Mu Alpha Theta is an international mathematics honor society for students in high school and two-year colleges. Membership totals more than 100,000 in more than 2,400 schools across 24 countries. Mu Alpha Theta is dedicated to inspiring keen interest in mathematics, developing strong scholarship in the subject, and promoting the enjoyment of mathematics.
Marion High School Mu Alpha Theta National Mathematics Society members pose for a group photo during the national convention and competition July 6-11 in Orlando, Fla. The team earned 13th place out of 43 schools. Pictured are: First row, from left: Noah Gilreath, Class of 2025, Abigail Crouch, Class of 2025, and Austin Ferren, Class of 2025; second row, from left, Lennon Cordell, senior, Kathy Gilreath, sponsor, and Dr. Angela Sellers, MHS math teacher and sponsor; third row, from left, Damien Martin, Class of 2025, and Tate Duncan, junior; fourth row, from left, Hannah Huff, sophomore, Ashton Circle, junior, and Doug Porter, MHS math teacher and sponsor; fifth row, from left, Gracie Dixon, sophomore, King-Henry Henriquez, sophomore, and Jacob Wood, Class of 2025; sixth row, from left, Carmell Stambaugh, Class of 2025, Madelynn Boogar, junior, Caleb Huff, Class of 2025, and Elijah Inskeep, senior; seventh row, from left, Alicia Crouch, sponsor; Chayim Hofmann, senior; eighth row, Aiden Gilreath, sophomore, and Nolan Lomely, junior; ninth row, RJ Slinkard, sophomore, Hayli Hodge, Class of 2025, and Alex Gilreath, senior; top row, Ethan Boogar, Class of 2025.