The 2009 Clemson Calculus Challenge
The sixth Clemson Calculus Challenge (CCC ) took place on Friday, April 17, 2009 at the Almeda Jacks Ballroom in the Hendrix Student Center. The Department of Mathematical Sciences hosted 197 students from 21 regional high schools.
The Department of Mathematical Sciences at Clemson University continues to enjoy support from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to sponsor the CCC . The NSF award has encouraged the continued growth of the CCC . Funding from NSF reimbursed travel expenses for participating schools, paid for lunch at Schilletter Dining Hall for participants and their teachers, and subsidized a morning reception for the teachers. The department is very appreciative of the funding from NSF.
The twenty-one regional high schools were partitioned into three divisions. The division classifications were based on the schools' enrollment: the higher the division number, the larger the school's enrollment. Awards in various categories and $500 scholarships to Clemson University are given in each division.
The high schools that competed in the 2009 CCC are listed in the following table.
| High School | City | State | Division | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A. C. Flora HS | Columbia | SC | 2 | 10 |
| Blythewood HS | Blythewood | SC | 3 | 12 |
| Brookland-Cayce HS | Cayce | SC | 2 | 9 |
| Chestatee HS | Gainesville | GA | 2 | 12 |
| D. W. Daniel HS | Central | SC | 2 | 12 |
| Flowery Branch HS | Flowery Branch | GA | 2 | 7 |
| Goose Creek HS | Goose Creek | SC | 3 | 12 |
| Grayson HS | Loganville | GA | 3 | 6 |
| James F. Burns HS | Duncan | SC | 3 | 6 |
| J. L. Mann HS | Greenville | SC | 2 | 12 |
| Johnson HS | Gainesville | GA | 2 | 10 |
| Mount de Dales Academy | Macon | GA | 1 | 8 |
| Oconee HS | Watkinsville | GA | 2 | 12 |
| Providence HS | Charlotte | NC | 3 | 6 |
| Renaissance HS | Charlotte | NC | 1 | 3 |
| South Mecklenburg HS | Charlotte | NC | 3 | 12 |
| Spartanburg Day School | Spartanburg | SC | 1 | 11 |
| Spring Valley HS | Columbia | SC | 3 | 12 |
| Stratford Academy | Macon | GA | 1 | 12 |
| Tattnall Square Academy | Macon | GA | 1 | 5 |
| White County HS | Cleveland | GA | 1 | 12 |
The research presentation was given by Wesley Johnson. Mr. Johnson is a member of both the Clemson Chapter of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Clemson Formula SAE Team. He spoke to the audience about how the Formula SAE Team designs a new formula racecar each year to compete in three competitions. His talk included references to the calculus knowledge needed in the design process for the racecar. The Formula SAE Team also parked this year’s racecar on the walkway outside the Ballroom Lobby. Students and teachers were encouraged to get a close look at the vehicle during the lunch break.
Awards
Dean Esin Gulari (College of Engineering and Science) and Chair Robert Taylor (Mathematical Sciences) were on hand to assist with the conferring of awards. Each school was placed in one of three divisions based on the enrollment of the school. Trophies were awarded in each division for first, second, and third place finishes in three categories: individual test, team competition, and overall school performance. Five hundred dollar scholarships to Clemson University were also granted to the first and second place finishers in the morning exam in each division. Lastly, an award for the most creative team name was given in each division. The following awards were made.
Individual Awards
| Place | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| First | Chris Ahn | Mount de Sales Academy |
| Second | Michael D'Abate | White County HS |
| Third | Caroline Jackson | Tattnall Square Academy |
 |
 |
 |
| Place | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| First | Ian Taylor | A. C. Flora HS |
| Second | Nathan Sitaraman* | D. W. Daniel HS |
| Third | Sean Soni | A. C. Flora HS |
 |
 |
| Place | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| First | Christopher Pasco | Spring Valley HS |
| Second | Trevor Auman | Spring Valley HS |
| Third | David Lee | Providence HS |
Team Awards
| Place | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| First | The Flying Yams | Spartanburg Day School |
| Second | Tattnall Trojans | Tattnall Square Academy |
| Third | Tattnall Squares | Tattnall Square Acamdemy |
 |
 |
 |
| Place | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| First | Swine and Coswine | A. C. Flora HS |
| Second | Femme Fatale | J. L. Mann HS |
| Third | Our sandwish theorem brings all the boys to the yard | D. W. Daniel HS |
 |
 |
 |
| Place | Winner | School |
|---|---|---|
| First | Unnatural Logs | Spring Valley HS |
| Second | SADD | Blythewood HS |
| Third | Calderint | Providence HS |
School Awards
 |
 |
 |
| Division | Place | School |
|---|---|---|
| I | First | Spartanburg Day School |
| I | Second | Mount de Sales Academy |
| I | Third | Tattnall Square Academy |
| II | First | A. C. Flora HS |
| II | Second | D. W. Daniel HS |
| II | Third | J. L. Mann HS |
| III | First | Spring Valley HS |
| III | Second | Providence HS |
| III | Third | Blythewood HS |
 |
We are grateful to our sponsors:
College of Engineering and Science | Department of Mathematical Sciences
Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.