Whereas, the Complexities of Mathematical Models Are Frequently Overwhelming, And

NO. R-281. JOINT RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING MONTPELIER HIGH SCHOOL’S FIRST PLACE TEAM IN THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL MATHEMATICAL MODELING CONTEST.

(J.R.S. 111)

Offered by: Senator Doyle of Washington County, Senator Cummings of Washington County and Senator Scott of Washington County.

Whereas, the complexities of mathematical models are frequently overwhelming, and

Whereas, annually, the Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications affords arithmetically-talented students from across the nation the opportunity to test their skills in the High School Mathematical Modeling Contest, and

Whereas, a high school’s participation is through teams where each competes in a grueling 36-hour testing session, and

Whereas, each team is challenged to solve numerically-based problems and report its results in the form of a mathematical model and accompanying narrative, and

Whereas, five teams represented Montpelier High School, and

Whereas, one of the Montpelier teams, consisting of senior Aaron Hartmann and juniors Mary Campo, Lindsay Herbert and Brian Whalen, selected an assignment requiring the construction of a mathematical model to determine if teenage pregnancy is a problem in a 12-county region, based on multiple data sets, and

Whereas, the problem also required the writing of a newspaper article to highlight the team’s conclusions, and

www.leg.state.vt.us NO. R-281 Page 2

Whereas, the work product of this outstanding team of young scholars earned a first place award, and the team was ranked as one of the top ten among the 212 which participated, and

Whereas, this stunning accomplishment demonstrates Montpelier High

School students are capable of competing academically against their colleagues from the nation’s most prestigious public and private schools, and

Whereas, this first place team is to be commended for its numerical sophistication, group cohesiveness and tenacity in so successfully completing this complex mathematical modeling assignment, and

Whereas, the team’s wonderful accomplishment is a reflection on the

Montpelier High School math department and its outstanding chair, Sue

Abrams, now therefore be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:

That the General Assembly takes great pleasure in congratulating the members of Montpelier High School’s first place team in the national High

School Mathematical Modeling Contest, and be it further

Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to each student on the team and to Sue Abrams at Montpelier High

School.

www.leg.state.vt.us