The University of Wisconsin-Superior recently hosted its long-running High School Math Meet, an annual event aimed at fostering a positive and engaging relationship with mathematics. For over 30 years, UWS has welcomed high school students to campus for a day of friendly competition, problem-solving and community-building through math.

“Math has a bit of a public relations problem,” said Josh Stangle, associate professor in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department and one of the event’s organizers. “It’s not uncommon to hear people proudly say they ‘hate math.’ But they might change their minds if they saw the joy our participants have in solving a particularly difficult problem — either as a team or individually. This event is about reframing math as something not just productive, but genuinely fun, and it seems to always succeed.”

The day began with a team challenge: a timed, eight-question long-answer exam that pushed students to think critically and collaborate.

“I thought it was good because we had to challenge ourselves,” said Kimberly Schweigert, a junior from Bruce High School. “It was also good because we got to see how everyone else’s mind works. It was really cool to see how different people approached the questions and figured out different ways to solve them.”

This marked Schweigert’s second year attending the meet. With more experience and confidence in her mathematical skills, she was eager to return.

“Last year was a good learning experience,” she said. “It was something I wanted to do again. I felt that I knew more this time. Math has always been a strong subject for me, and I thought, ‘I should see if I can compete in this.’”

Following the team event, students rotated through five subject-specific challenges in calculus, geometry, algebra, trigonometry and statistics. Additional activities included a candy bar quiz and a short math talk focused on growth models.

For Schweigert, the experience offered a refreshing contrast to the typical classroom setting.

“At school, we’re more focused on learning the material,” she said. “But here, it’s like, ‘OK, do I really know this?’ Because you can’t ask questions — you have to rely on yourself.”

The event concluded with an award ceremony recognizing top-performing schools and individuals. All six members of the Bruce High School team earned prizes, including one student who took first place in the geometry category.

The High School Math Meet was offered at no cost to participants and was organized by UW-Superior’s Mathematics and Computer Science Department. In addition to Stangle, the team of organizers included Department Chair and Assistant Professor Jonathan Totushek and Teaching Professor Heather Kahler. The event also received support from the Admissions Office, Dean of Academic Affairs, and Visual Arts Department.

“I would definitely encourage other students to come,” said Schweigert. “It’s a great experience. If a student is interested in math or feels confident in it, they should definitely check it out.”

By Olivia Fleming, English major and student writer for UWS.