August, 2024

On Monday morning, August 5 th , 13 Colorado Math Awards (CMA) medalists and seven of their teachers and coaches were congratulated by Governor Jared Polis in the rotunda of the State Capitol. Together with parents and other family members and guests, more than 40 persons this event.

These 13 students are among the 27 middle school and high school students who received one or more medals at CMA's annual program on May 7th at the University of Denver. (For a list of the 27 medalists and their teachers and coaches, click HERE. For a copy of the May 7 th awards program and a list of all 64 students recognized that day for excellence in national mathematics competitions, click HERE.)

Among those students who met with the governor were the first recipients of the Dick Gibbs CMA Scholarship awards: Kelly Young, recent graduate of Fairview High School in Boulder and incoming freshman at Purdue University , and Srinivas Arun, a Cherry Creek High School graduate, headed for MIT this fall. These awards are given for outstanding performance in state and national mathematics competitions over several years.

This scholarship is named after CMA co-founder and co-chair for many years–Richard “Dick” Gibbs. Dr. Gibbs served as chair of the Department of Mathematics at Ft. Lewis College for many years and chaired the American Mathematics Competitions Committee – MAA.

In the spring of 2023, Governor Polis and bipartisan legislators  announced historic investments in data-driven math support for Colorado students, which includes  statewide access to a K-8 digital math accelerator, Zearn. In the 2023-24 school year, more than 900 schools across Colorado opted in to use Zearn Math. Can preparing for and participating in math competitions and contests at all levels be a valuable complement to improving math skills in the classroom? CMA and Zearn leaders are in conversation about this question and welcome comments and suggestions from students, teachers, and coaches as well.