Mu Alpha Theta
Mu Alpha Theta is a United States mathematics honor society. It has over 65,000 student members in more than 1,400 schools worldwide. Its main goals are to inspire keen interest in mathematics, develop strong scholarship in the subject, and promote the enjoyment of mathematics in high school and two year college students.
History
The Mu Alpha Theta National High School and Junior College Mathematics Club was founded in 1957 by Dr. Richard V. Andree and his wife, Josephine Andree, at the University of Oklahoma. In Andree's words, Mu Alpha Theta is "an organization dedicated to promoting scholarship in mathematics and establishing math as an integral part of high school and junior college education". The name Mu Alpha Theta was constructed from the Greek lettering for the phonemes m, a, and th.
Pi Mu Epsilon, the National Collegiate Honor Society of Mathematics, contributed funds for the organization's initial expenses; the University of Oklahoma provided space, clerical help and technical assistance. The Mathematical Association of America, a primary sponsor of the organization since 1958, and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics nominated the first officers and Board of Governors. The Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics became an official sponsor in 1998, followed by The American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges in 2002.
The official journal of Mu Alpha Theta, The Mathematical Log, was first issued in 1957 on mimeograph and was in printed form starting in 1958. It was published four times during the school year until 2002 and featured articles, reports, news and problems for students.
Several different awards are given by Mu Alpha Theta, including the Kalin Award to outstanding students. Awards are also given to students who plan to become mathematics teachers. Chapters and chapter sponsors are also recognized by the Sister Scholastica and Huneke awards for most dedicated sponsors.
The first Mu Alpha Theta National Convention was held at the University of Pittsburgh in 1970. Each year the convention brings together hundreds of teachers and students from across the country for five days of math-related events. The 2005 Mu Alpha Theta was held in Honolulu, Hawaii, and was won by Vestavia Hills High School Math Team from Alabama. The 2006 Mu Alpha Theta was held in Fort Collins, Colorado, and was also won by Vestavia Hills High School.
Competition
Competition is divided into three levels, Mu(Calculus), Alpha(Precalculus), and Theta(Algebra II and Geometry). Most students start at the Theta level and progress to higher levels. A student could begin at the another level. However, if a student competes in a higher level, such a Alpha, he/she cannot then go back and compete at the Theta level. This encourages students to compete with other students who are taking classes of similar mathematical difficulty.