KU News Release

KU team places first at Kansas Collegiate Mathematics Competition

LAWRENCE — A University of Kansas team of three undergraduate students placed first this year in the third annual Kansas Collegiate Mathematics Competition held March 30-31 at Wichita State University as part of the Kansas section meeting of the Mathematical Association of America.

Twelve teams of two to three students from Kansas colleges and universities took part in the intensive three-hour adjudicated competition that challenged each participant to solve five math problems worth 10 points each. The top two individual scores on each team were added to form the overall team score. Two teams of three students each represented KU at the event.

The KU-I team of Rachel Debes, Hays junior; Brian Moehring, Olathe senior; and Nick Tobaben, Topeka junior, received the first-place plaque award. Members of KU’s second team were Bowe Neuenschwander, Hoxie sophomore; Rong Chen, Atchison freshman, and Bertrand Kotewall, Hong Kong senior.

Moehring received the $100 third-place individual award with a 40 out of a possible 50 points, and Debes was fourth with 38 out of 50 points. Judges also cited Tobaben and Neuenschwander with noteworthy individual scores. First- and second-place individual winners were from Kansas State University.

Atanas Stefanov, KU assistant professor of mathematics, was in charge of the intercollegiate competition portion of the program. Jeremy Martin, assistant professor of mathematics, coached both KU teams.

KU undergraduates at the conference also took part in mathematics-related program presentations. Keynote speaker Robert Finn, professor emeritus of mathematics at Stanford University, considered a leading expert in the mathematical theory of capillarity, was keynote speaker.

The Mathematical Association of America is a professional society whose purpose is to advance mathematical sciences at the collegiate level.

KU student participants are listed below by hometown, level in school, major, parents’ names, high school attended (when available) and award received.

ATCHISON COUNTY
From Atchison 66002
Rong Chen, freshman in mathematics, daughter of Xiuzhu and Lida Chen; Atchison High School.

ELLIS COUNTY
From Hays 67601
Rachel Debes, junior in mathematics, daughter of Ken and Debbie Debes; Hays High School; first-place team member and fourth-place individual award winner.

JOHNSON COUNTY
From Olathe 66061
Brian Moehring, senior in mathematics, son of Rick and Dene Moehring; Olathe South High School; first-place team member and third-place $100 individual award winner.

SHERIDAN COUNTY
From Hoxie 67740
Bowe Neuenschwander, sophomore in computer engineering with a minor in mathematics, son of Karl and Marie Neuenschwander; Hoxie High School.

SHAWNEE COUNTY
From Topeka 66605
Nick Tobaben, junior in mathematics and mechanical engineering, son of Jim and Anita Tobaben; Shawnee Heights High School, Tecumseh; first-place team winner.

HONG KONG
Bertrand Kotewall, senior in mathematics, son of Robert George Kotewall.

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