2nd ANNUAL 
Lincoln University
Sonia Kovalevsky Math for Girls Day
April 20, 2007

Throughout the day we provided prizes for students who answered questions about Sonia Kovalevsky, their seminars, and the career panelists.

Due to a miscommunication with one middle school, over 60 sixth graders were registered for the event. We had initially intended to have a day specifically for young ladies in grades 8 – 12^th. We were only alerted to this issue a few days before the event. Team Competition questions were adjusted to accommodate the younger age group and we alerted the speakers so that they could make adjustments to their presentations. Most speakers took notice and adjusted as much as possible.

Students were divided into teams of 2 – 3 and separated by grade levels for the team competition. (Grades 9 – 12 High School Level, Grades 6 – 8 Middle School Level) While students participated in the team competition, teachers/parents attended a workshop describing how to use the TI-84 calculator and Geometers Sketchpad. Each teacher worked individually at a computer and was provided a TI – 84 graphing calculator (on loan from TI Loan Program).

After the Team Competition students had the opportunity to choose from six different seminars. Each seminar was limited to 18 students to allow speakers to provide more individual attention and hands on activities.

Seminar Speaker Information

Student Seminars

Mrs. Drenda Williams, NRCS, USDA Natural Resource Specialist

Maps: Not Just a Pretty Picture

Female, African American

Ms. Pam Rusk, FAA, Kansas City, MO

Applying Math Principles to Aviation

Female, Caucasian

LTC Wiggins, LUROTC

Orienteering

Male, African American

Mr. Lawrence Cranor, Shelter Insurance, Jefferson City, MO

Actuarial Science: Business Math and Statistics Much More than Accounting

Male, Caucasian

Ms. Sharon Ray, KMIZ TV

Meteorology and Mathematics

Female, Caucasian

Mr. Tim Steele & Lisa Dean, Ameren UE- Callaway Hills, MO

Mathematics and Nuclear Power

Male/Female, Caucasian

Teachers/Parents participated in a workshop on the History of Women in Mathematics while students attended their seminars. This seminar was presented by Dr. Ruthi Sturdevant, LU Math Department Head.

Teacher Seminars

Mrs. Bernadette Turner, LU Assistant Professor of Mathematics

Geometry & Algebraic Projects/Activities That Help Girls Perform Better in Math

Female, Caucasian

Dr. Ruthi Sturdevant, Lincoln University Math Department Head

History of Women in Math

Female, Caucasian

During lunch, students were enlightened about the various careers and research endeavors of our President, Dr. Carolyn Mahoney. Dr. Mahoney provided words of wisdom and insight into her past workings as an up and coming mathematician. She spoke of her research in cryptography and number theory and how that related to prime numbers.

After lunch participants enjoyed a career panel discussion with Ms. Pam Rusk of the FAA, Mr. Tim Steele, of Ameren UE, and Mrs. Gerlena Clark, a retired math teacher and former LU alum. Mrs. Clark spoke about her studies and her first job at McDonnell Douglas calculating/developing flight schedules and proper fuel requirements. Mr. Steele shared his experience working with the local nuclear plant, and Ms. Rusk discussed her work as a Cryptological Technician. Participants were encouraged to pay close attention to each speaker. At the conclusion of the panel, questions were asked from the audience and prizes were awarded.

At the close of the day, awards were provided to teams of students who scored the highest on the math team competition. 1^st and 2^nd place schools received trophies, students received medals (1^st and 2^nd) and certificates, third place received certificates and ribbons, and fourth place received a certificate.

BUDGET REVISIONS:

Adjustments were made to the budget, as seen via receipts, due to two main factors.

Each speaker was obtained at no cost to the University therefore; the submitted request for $600 for honorariums was not needed. I utilized federal and state organizations to provide speakers to cut costs so that monies could be spent on other items (food, larger trophies, “math themed” medals, give-aways) Contact was made with Ms. Jennifer Lewis on Saturday May 13, 2006 to report that money was needed to cover lunch costs. Ms. Lewis requested that I include the receipt and rationale within the report. The second factor that altered spending was meals. Lunch and Continental Breakfast was quoted at a higher price. $1150 was budgeted for the meals; however the total cost was $1513.15.

For our first year, the day went great! Most faculty and staff enjoyed the event as much as the participants and we are already looking forward to providing an even better event next year.

Featured Activity: “Maps: Not Just a Pretty Picture”

Presented by

Mrs. Drenda Williams,

Natural Resource Specialist, USDA/NRCS, Columbia, MO

Mrs. Williams presented each student with a Photo Interpretation Booklet that contained aerial photographs of various locations around the United States. Each student was also supplied with calculators, rulers, and pencils. Prior to her hands on activity, students were given a definition of a “map”, what information is contained in a map, and how the USDA utilizes maps to provide important information to state/city agencies.

Students were given a legend where 1in (map) = 24,000in (ground) and used proportions & rates to convert measured distances to ground distances in feet and miles. Students worked out problems, in-groups, on the board, and at their desks. Students were given distances from Lincoln University of Missouri to cities where participants were from. Students measured distances using their rulers (from Columbia, MO to Jefferson City, MO) and were asked to convert the distance in inches to miles on the ground. (5280ft = 1 mile & 12 in = 1 ft)

Mrs. Williams engaged students in a second activity called Photo Interpretation, where they inspected two aerial photos one from 1982 and the other from 1988. Both photos were of the same areas of the US; however one was on a larger scale. Students were directed to look for contrasting objects. They first looked for items that were darker (trees, ocean, & grass) and then those that were lighter such as sand, buildings, & streets. Students discussed the changes over time that occurred in the land (sand deposits, removal – destruction of trees, etc.)

As students ended their session they were allowed to utilize a stereoscope, an instrument that allows the viewer to see a two – dimensional image as three-dimensional.

Mrs. Drenda Williams

drenda.williams@mo.usda.gov

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Last revised: February 10, 2007