Student Competitions

North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics State High School Mathematics Contests

The State Mathematics Contest was initiated in 1979 to provide state level competition in comprehensive mathematics for those students who had excelled in regional contests held earlier across the State. Under the sponsorship of the North Carolina Council of Teachers of Mathematics, regional winners are invited to the NC School of Science and Mathematics to determine the top mathematics students in the State.

The State Contest expanded to include State finals in Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Geometry. Results from three regional final sites are used to determine the top performers in the three subjects.

Go to the Contest web site for more information or contact John Goebel, Contest Committee Chair.

First Robotics Competition

NCSSM has been collaborating with the Durham Public Schools in the First Robotics national competition for three years. In winter, specification of what the robot is supposed to be able to do is issued to potential participants. In addition a kit is made available with some of the components that are needed to build the robot. The site for the robot competition is http://www.usfirst.org/roboticsprograms/frc

There are regional competitions in the late winter for NC and then national competitions that occur in various cities across the U.S.A. This year the National Championship will be held in St. Louis, Missouri on April 25-28. Thousands will be attending.

North Carolina Student Academy of Science

NCSAS is an organization for students in grades 6-12 in alliance with the North Carolina Academy of Science (NCAS). The objectives of NCSAS are 1) to promote the study of science, technology, and mathematics, 2) to assist students to pursue careers in science and technology, and 3) to encourage students to use their talents for improvement of themselves, their schools, and their communities.

Students prepare research projects as an individual or as a team of 2-3 students. Students may conduct research in any appropriate area of science, technology or mathematics and then prepare their written reports.

The 2012 North Carolina Student Academy of Science (NCSAS) Annual Meeting and state-wide competition will be held on the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics campus on Friday, March 23. Steve Warshaw, NCSSM is the executive director of NCSAS. warshaw@ncssm.edu (919) 416-2886

NCSSM is District #9 of nine districts across the state for the NCSAS.

The District 9 NCSSM Directors are:
Tom Clayton, NCSSM (919)-416-2888 clayton@ncssm.edu
Amy Sheck, NCSSM (919)-416-2768 clayton@ncssm.edu

For other details and complete schedule, visit the State NCSAS website at: http://www.ncsas.org
2011-2012 NCSAS Brochure

The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (UNSCO)

“The U.S. National Chemistry Olympiad (UNSCO) and the International Chemistry Olympiad are multitier competitions that bring together the world’s most talented high school students to test their knowledge and skills in chemistry. Nations around the world conduct examinations to – nominate the most high-performing students for the International Chemistry Olympiad.” (American Chemical Society website)

NCSSM hosts the local section of the UNSCO exam and invites about 120 area schools to participate. Of those invited only about 15 schools participate each year. The top 20 scorers on the USNCO National Exam are invited to participate in the two-week USNCO Study Camp at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. North Carolina has had students selected for the National Study Camp for five of the past six years. They have been either from NCSSM or one of the schools that participated in the local exam

At the USNCO camp, the students are tested (both free response and lab testing), and the top four students are selected to comprise the U.S. International Chemistry Olympiad team.

About the 2012 Chemistry Olympiad regional exam:

Myra Halpin a chemistry instructor here at NCSSM is the American Chemical Society Local Chair of the Chemistry Olympiad Exam Committee. Chemistry teachers interested in having their students take the Chemistry Olympiad Regional Exam should complete the form (linked below) listing the names of the students. Then scan and return it to halpin@ncssm.edu or fax it to: 919-416-2650 by March 5. Teachers will receive the test for the number of students indicated. The test should be administered during any day March 12th-20th. Answer sheets must be returned to Myra Halpin so that they arrive by March 26.

After the tests are scored, the top fifteen students in the region will be invited to take the Nation Chemistry Olympiad exam scheduled at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics on April 20. No more than two students per school may be included in the fifteen.

Click here to download form.

For questions and more detailed instructions contact:
Myra Halpin Halpin@ncssm.edu
American Chemical Society Local Chair of the Chemistry Olympiad Exam Committee