February was a busy month of opportunities in celebration of Engineers Week 2024. Your MSPE Board of Directors and I are proud to serve and represent our state’s members in collaboration with our National Society, NSPE.

We thank you for your participation as an MSPE/NSPE member, and encourage you to review and leverage your member benefits and become even more involved.

Whether you’re a seasoned engineer with decades of experience, or a recent graduate looking forward to your future as a Professional Engineer, MSPE/NSPE is your comprehensive, cost-effective source of practical tools and opportunities designed to enhance your expertise and expand your experience.

Below you'll find time-sensitive opportunities to earn scholarships, compete in an ethics contest, and provide your opinion on the future outlook for engineers. You'll meet a member; welcome new members; learn about free professional development tools; learn which middle school Mathletes will represent MA at the 2024 National MATHCOUNTS competition in May; and consider an appeal for a host-location for next year’s MATHCOUTS State Championship on March 2, 2025.

MSPE members and engineering professionals are encouraged to participate in this 10-minute survey on current issues affecting the practice of engineering by March 20. Participants may enter a drawing to win one of five $100 Amazon gift cards. Responses are anonymous, and survey results will be presented in an upcoming article in PE magazine, and other NSPE communications. Please share the survey link with your engineer colleagues so they can participate!

This school year, MA MATHCOUNTS served nearly 800 students in 121 schools state-wide. Throughout February, the students competed in 7 Chapter Competitions to determine the top students eligible to advance to the State Competition.

On March 2, the MATHCOUNTS State Competition was held at UMass Lowell. 127 students from 41 schools participated in the grueling competition to determine the four who will advance to the 2024 National MATHCOUNTS Competition from May 11-13 in Washington, DC.

The day began with a Sprint Round, in which students had 40 minutes to finish 30 math problems without a calculator. Next was the Target Round, consisting of four pairs of problems that each had to be completed in six minutes with calculator assistance. Next was the Team Round, when the 21 Official Schools formed 4 student teams in which they worked cooperatively to complete 10 questions in 20 minutes. Finally, the Countdown Round featured direct competition in which students buzzed in their answers like a game show. (At the national level, this round determines the championship winner, but at the state level, it is simply for fun and practice.)

1st Place: 8th Grader Selena Ge from Jonas Clarke Middle School in Lexington (This will be Selena's 3rd trip to National Competition. She helped Team MA place 3rd overall in 2023 and 4th overall in 2022.)

2nd Place: 6th grader Brandon Ni from Jonas Clarke Middle School in Lexington

3rd Place: 8th grader Danyang Xu from Jonas Clarke Middle School in Lexington

4th Place: 8th grader Rajarshi Mandal from William Diamond Middle School Lexington

Coached by Josh Frost of Jonas Clarke Middle School, now in his 24th year of coaching for MA Mathcounts

MSPE recognizes with grateful appreciation the 7 Chapter Coordinators and their proctors and scorers, who volunteer their time and talent to support more than 800 Mathletes in 7 chapters across Massachusetts. See the MA MATHCOUNTS section of mspe.com for details.

Location: Can be anywhere in MA (traditionally in Boston area or Worcester area)

Main Space: Can be a gymnasium with tables and chairs, a corporate dining room, a lecture hall, large conference space, etc.

Other Spaces: Isolated space/room for approximately 20 scorers, and waiting area for approx. 100 teachers/parents

Please contact MATHCOUNTS State Coordinator John J. Hayden, PE with questions, suggestions, or for more information.

Donate or Volunteer: MATHCOUNTS is a grassroots program made possible through the efforts of Chapter Coordinators and volunteers, and supporters from local industries and communities across MA who donate tax-deductible contributions.

Every tax-deductible corporate sponsorship or individual contribution donated directly supports our student Mathletes™. The MATHCOUNTS Foundation, a National Organization, supplies only about 1/3 of our State program’s operating costs. The remainder comes from organizations, like the Massachusetts Society of Professional Engineers and other professional organizations, local companies and individuals.

Learn More about Opportunities to Support Massachusetts MATHCOUNTS 

Match your wits and knowledge of engineering ethics with experienced professional engineers and engineering students throughout the country!

All current MSPE/NSPE members (including student members) are invited to participate in the 2024 NSPE Milton F. Lunch Ethics Contest.