Currently consisting of around 300 students, Mu Alpha Theta was once known as one of the more “boring non-active clubs,” according to Sara Tuttle, sponsor of Palmetto’s Mu Alpha Theta chapter. The founder of Mu Alpha Theta, Richard V. Andree, describes it as “an organization, dedicated to promoting scholarship in mathematics and establishing math as an integral part of high school and junior college education.”
At Palmetto, Mu Alpha Theta, also known as MAO, is an honor society to which students may apply. Math teachers are asked to pick students who they find exceptionally strong in math, and then those chosen students are asked if they want to join.
Senior Kelly Hsu, president of Mu Alpha Theta, has been a member of the honor society for all four years of high school.
“I got more and more involved every year, and as a junior I became treasurer,” Hsu said. “I realized there’s a lot of parts in Mu Alpha Theta that I can participate in. ”
Students compete in the area of math that they are completing at school, such as statistics, calculus geometry and Algebra 2. Students who participate in competitions enjoy math and have fun being a part of Mu Alpha Theta.
“I like doing math with friends at the competitions on Saturdays,” senior Alexander Barrerio said.
Mu Alpha Theta competitions take place all year round, but the busiest times are the first four months of the year. Competitions are held at the end of January and on February 12, March 12 and April 15 and 16. At all competitions, every student takes an hour-long test comprised of approximately 30 multiple choice questions from his or her current math course, and then the top four students in each category participate in a team competition. All the testing is finished by noon; participants have lunch, and then attend an award ceremony at the end of the day.
In some competitions, miniature prizes, such as gift cards, are awarded “but it’s mostly for the glory of the little plastic trophies,” Tuttle said.
There are other seniors in Mu Alpha Theta besides Hsu who have been a part of the club for all four years like Christian Cortes.
“The reason I have stayed in Mu Alpha Theta for this long is not only because I enjoy math, but I also enjoy being with the people who are involved in it, including Mrs. Tuttle herself,” Cortes said. “There are a lot of friends I have met throughout the club, and I feel as if it was an experience that changed my high school environment.”
Mu Alpha Theta also offers a tutoring program through the club. It has been a struggle to get members involved in the program because there are not enough students requesting the tutoring.
“We really need more people to show interest in needing a tutor,” Tuttle said.
Whether it is winning a math competition or just excelling in the multiple categories of math, Mu Alpha Theta members focus on having fun.
“It’s nice to win, and we do from time to time,” Tuttle said, “but it’s nice to just have a day of math.”
