Elizabethtown College’s Department of Mathematical Sciences and student-led Math Club recently hosted 75 local high school students for its second annual High School Math Contest on April 8. View photos.

“The Math Club was thrilled to welcome students from 19 local high schools to our contest this year – almost doubling the number of schools from our inaugural event last spring,” Math Club President Jeremy Fortna ’25, a Mathematics Secondary Education major, said. “I hope this competition continues to grow and evolve each year, as it provides a valuable opportunity for high-achieving high school mathematicians to experience the beauty and utility of mathematics beyond the traditional classroom.”

The day began with a welcome assembly and the opportunity for the high school students to hear from Etown’s Admissions Counselors and learn about life as a Blue Jay from a student panel.

Afterward, students began the competition, attempting to solve 30 math problems developed by members of the Etown Math Club and the Math faculty. Top-scoring individuals and high schools were given awards, including scholarships to Etown for top individual scorers. For the second consecutive year, Hershey High School won the team award, Palmyra High School got second place, and Annvile-Cleona School District was third.

In the individual awards, Hershey High School students had the top two spots with a student from Palmyra High School winning third.

The students then took part in three escape rooms designed by current Etown math students, called “Outsmart the Detectives,” “School Sleuths,” and “College Break-out.” They also had the chance to visit an engaging activity fair facilitated by current Etown math students and faculty members and play a variety of math-related board games.

The event consisted of groups of students from 19 local high schools: Annville-Cleona School District, Boiling Springs High School, Carlisle High School, Cedar Crest High School, Central Dauphin High School, Central York High School, Chambersburg Area Senior High School, Cocalico High School, Conrad Weiser Area High School, Donegal High School, Elizabethtown Area School District, Hershey High School, Lower Dauphin High School, Palmyra Area High School, Penn Manor High School, Pittsburgh Science and Technology Academy, Warwick High School, Wilson High School, and York County Day School.

Learn more about Elizabethtown College’s Mathematics program.