New Kensington

Kiski School wins another Math League trophy

Saltsburg boarding school earns sixth consecutive title

The questions in algebra, geometry and other areas of mathematics are developed by the campus’ husband-and-wife team of Xiang Ji, assistant professor of mathematics, left, and Ge Mu, instructor in mathematics. Credit: Bill Woodard / Penn StateCreative Commons

UPPER BURRELL, Pa. -- The Kiski School captured its sixth consecutive championship of the WEDIG Math League competition April 16 at Penn State New Kensington.

The A team of the college preparatory boarding school in Saltsburg compiled 72 points to win by 27 points. Kiski swept the top three spots as its B team finished second with 45 points and the C team claimed the bronze medal with 44 points. Burrell High School finished fourth with 42 points. Kiski’s Yunzhe Li was the top individual scorer with 15 points (out of a total of 16).

The two-day competition, spread over the fall and spring semesters, featured more than 120 students from nine area high schools answering mathematical questions. Sponsored by WEDIG (Westmoreland Economic and Development Initiative for Growth), the annual competition brings together students from Burrell, Ford City, Freeport, Kiski Area, Kiski School, Kittanning, Leechburg and Valley high schools, and gives them the chance to go head-to-head in an academic competition.

Each school is allowed three teams of five students, competing against all the other teams in each round. Students answer two sets of eight questions within the 25-minute limit for each set. The questions in algebra, geometry and other areas of mathematics are developed by the campus’ husband-and-wife team of Xiang Ji, assistant professor of mathematics, and Ge Mu, instructor in mathematics.

“It is very encouraging to witness the young generation participating in the contest with strong passions towards mathematics,” said Mu, third-year director of the event. “As we all know, the whole nation is working very hard on the education in STEM fields.”

The STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) focus is meant to prepare Pennsylvania students for global competitiveness through a strategy of enhanced education and career development opportunities. The initiatives are designed to increase the number of students, especially females, minorities and the underrepresented, in the STEM fields.

The Math League competitions began in 1986 under the direction of David Wells, associate professor of mathematics at the campus, who retired in 2012. Mu replaced Wells on the campus faculty and as head of the math competition. In the 28 years of competition, five schools have hoisted the championship trophy. Kiski Area earned 14 titles, including a record eight consecutive wins from 1999-2005. Kiski School follows with eight. Burrell owns three trophies and Apollo-Ridge has two. Valley was the inaugural winner.

“The Math League serves as a wonderful way to motivate our students to achieve their best study potentials in mathematics,” said Mu, a native of China.Ge Mu and Xiang Ji

Mu holds a master of arts in mathematics degree from Penn State's University Park campus, where she taught mathematics for two years before arriving at the New Kensington campus. She has written two books: “Being an Undergraduate in the U.S.” that was published by Heilongjiang Education Press in 2006 and "Comprehensive College Algebra – Building Mathematics Insights through Logic and Exercises" that was published by Cognella Academic Publishing in 2013. The first book was written when she was an undergraduate and is based on her experiences at Louisiana State University. She was recognized for her publication at LSU’s commencement ceremony in 2008.

Ji joined the New Kensington faculty in 2013 after earning his doctorate in mathematics from Penn State. He secured a master’s degree in mathematics from Beijing University in China. He was a graduate teaching assistant at the University Park campus for four years. Ji’s research interests are differential geometry and mathematical physics. He wrote a book, "Comprehensive College Algebra: Building Mathematical Insights Through Logic and Exercises," that was published this year by Cognella Academic Publishing. His wife, Ge Mu, instructor in mathematics at the campus, was the co-author.

Mu and Ji are residents of Plum Borough.

For additional information, contact Mu at 724-334-6749 or dmw6@psu.edu.

The victorious Kiski School team hoists the Math league trophy after securing its sixth consecutive championship. Credit: Bill Woodard / Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated April 23, 2015

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