Video: MUW Hosts Annual ‘High School Mathematics Day’ for Girls

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COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI) – As technology continues to advance, careers involving math and science are in high demand. Historically, many of those jobs are not held by women but programs like STEM encourage girls to pursue math-related fields. On Tuesday, Mississippi University for Women held its annual High School Mathematics Day for girls. Young women from all over the Golden Triangle came to sharpen their math skills. MUW Math Professor, Dr. Dorothy Kerzel says girls need to know that they too can thrive in math and science fields.

“Girls and women are just as capable. Sometimes perhaps they need a little more encouragement or they need role models to show them that they can do those things and be successful in those areas,” says Kerzel.

The girls started the day by competing in a math skills test. Prizes and MUW scholarships are awarded to those with the highest scores. Some of the girls say they already know how math will play a major role in their career choice.

“I want to pursue a degree in bio-chemistry. I know that requires a lot of science and math. So I’m good at but I’m coming here to get better at it,” says Aliyah Gillepsie, a Senior at Aberdeen High School. [syndicaster id=’5390852′][syndicaster id=’5390852′]

“I’ve always loved math. I’m ok at it. So it’s always been a particular interest of mine,” says Elizabeth Zettler, from Caledonia High School.

“I think it’s very important for women to enhance their math skills because for so long it’s been such a male dominated field of study. I think it’s important that women are also shown that we can do it just as well as men can,” says Sloan Amos, from Heritage Academy in Columbus.

Workshops focusing on multiplication, problem solving and the art of origami were also presented. Kim Walters from Mississippi State University was the guest speaker.

The day-long event is held every year in honor of Sonya Kovalevsky, the first woman to receive a doctoral degree in mathematics.