Sum-thing Special: OSU High School Math Day fosters community of learning
Friday, August 22, 2025
Media Contact: Elizabeth Gosney | CAS Marketing and Communications Manager | 405-744-7497 | egosney@okstate.edu
For over 10 years, Oklahoma State University’s Department of Mathematics has hosted High School Math Day, welcoming nearly 200 students annually from schools across the region to Stillwater’s campus.
“Math is an incredibly useful and exciting way to understand the world,” said Dr. Jeff Mermin, associate professor of mathematics and High School Math Day coordinator. “Too often, classroom math feels like memorizing formulas, but step outside that standard curriculum and there’s so much to discover.”
OSU’s Math Day has evolved over the years — from identifying the best-trained mathematician among area high schools to recognizing a broader group of talented math students and showcasing the beauty of engaging with mathematics.
“Even beyond the inherent beauty of geometry, combinatorics and number theory, math offers fresh ways to appreciate sports and the arts, tools for designing systems and objects, and insight into everyday decision making,” Mermin said.
“I hope students leave thinking, ‘Math is more interesting than I realized. There’s math in places I didn’t expect. There are a lot of other students around Oklahoma who are interested in math. I’d like to learn more about math when I go to college. I’d like to come back to OSU for college.’”
In addition to competing in a 25-question individual contest, Math Day attendees can participate in a low-intensity team round, interact with other talented peers, meet OSU Math Club students and hear from OSU faculty during public talks.
“I think there’s a misconception that mathematics is typically done in isolation, when really math has the possibility to be a very social activity,” said Dr. Jay Schweig, OSU Department of Mathematics head. “Mathematicians and math students give each other ideas and feedback, discuss interesting results and problems and support each other. In general, there’s a real sense of community within the subject at all levels, and this event demonstrates that well.”
OSU students provide hospitality and support throughout the day, while Department of Mathematics faculty provide competition problems and create presentations that foster continued interest in math well beyond High School Math Day.
“The field of mathematics has such incredible breadth — the math one sees in high school is just a tiny fraction of all the amazing stuff that’s out there,” Schweig said. “High School Math Day is a wonderful opportunity for students to engage with new mathematical material, seeing things they wouldn’t normally encounter in their high school curricula.”
Story By: Adeola Favour | Photos By: Jason Wallace | casnews@okstate.edu