VSU hosts the 11th annual Sonia Kovalevsky High School MathematicsDay

The Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Valdosta State University will host the 11th annual Sonia Kovalevsky High School Mathematics Day (SK Day) on Thursday, April 20, 2006, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., in the Powell Hall Auditorium.

SK Day is a project that seeks to encourage high school females to pursue the study of mathematics and prepare for possible careers in mathematics-related fields. The event will include a welcome from Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences Dr. Linda Calendrillo and three mathematics workshops led by VSU faculty: Problem Solving by Dr. Sandy Trowell; Platonic Solids by Janna Medley Lane; and Exploring Quilt Patterns to Learn about Area by Dr. Arsalan Wares. Career role model Dr. Nichole Yarbrough of Southern OB/GYN Associates PC will be the guest speaker.

High school students and teachers will be attending from schools such as Brantley County High School, Clinch County High School, Early County High School, Thomas County Central High, Berrien High School, Irwin County High School, Ware County High School and Valdosta High School.

SK Day is named in honor of Sonia Kovalevsky (1850-1891), a Russian mathematician and the first woman to earn a doctorate in Mathematics. The day is made possible by a grant from the Association for Women in Mathematics, Elizabeth City State University and the National Security Agency. Additional sponsors of the day are: VSU Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, Texas Instruments, Wild Adventures, Addison Wesley, Houghton Mifflin, McGraw Hill, Thomson Learning, Learning Tree, Blimpie Subs & Salad, and Chick-fil-A.

For more information contact Pat Bezona at 229-333-5437.