There were more than 350 entries in the ninth annual Michigan Statistics Poster Competition for K-12. Judging of the posters took place March 15th on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University (GVSU). Statisticians and mathematics educators from GVSU, Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan University, and Michigan State University had a very difficult task determining the winners from among so many interesting and well-done posters.
Entries were judged in four grade level categories: K-3, 4-6, 7-9, and 10-12. Students were permitted to work in groups of up to 4 members except for the K-3 category where students were permitted to work as a class. Monetary prizes and plaques will be awarded to the winning students and their schools. The first place posters in each grade category are:
K-3: "Popcorn" by J. Waswick, Waswick Family Home School, Hamilton.
4-6: "How Happy Are You?" by A. McAuliffe, Holland West Middle School, Holland.
7-9: "The Good News and the Bad News about Teen Pregnancy* by P. Morel, V. Morel, and S. Knorek, Battle Creek Area Mathematics and Science Center, Battle Creek.
10-12: "Capital Capitols* by T. Hsia and C. Bush, Macomb Mathematics Science Technology Center, Warren.
The committee wishes to express its thanks to the many teachers around the state that participated in this year*s competition. We look forward to seeing your students* fantastic ideas put on posterboard again next year. For a complete list of this year*s winners along with photos of the winning posters, visit the competition web site at:
http://www.gvsu.edu/stat/statposter
The competition is sponsored by the Regional Math and Science Center and the Department of Statistics at GVSU and The Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics.
GVSU Biostatistics grads stay in Michigan
While Michigan's economic outlook continues to be bleak, the first five graduates from the Professional Science Master's program in Biostatistics at Grand Valley State University have all found jobs in Michigan.
Robert Downer, director of the Biostatistics program, said the graduates are strong in their knowledge of applied statistical techniques. Through their applied coursework and internships, they have strong hands-on experience in the application of statistics to the biological and health sciences, said Downer. I believe they will become leaders in their positions within industry and the academic world.
The five graduates are Heather Houseman, a contract biometrician with Pfizer Animal Health in Richland; Justin Sjogren, a clinical biostatistician with MMS Holdings in Canton; Becky Twing, a visiting professor of statistics at Grand Valley; Tom Holmes, a biostatistical analyst for QST Consultations in Allendale; and Craig Johnson, a statistician at U of M's Comprehensive Cancer Center in Ann Arbor.
The coursework required in the program helped me get my position at Pfizer Animal Health, said Houseman. Internships are required in the program and mine, at Van Andel Institute, provided me with valuable experience.
Tom Holmes, an employee of QST Consultations, said he started as an intern with the company. I was able to transition into full-time employment after graduation, he said. That is a testament to the program that students not only can gain employment in the field, but also have the necessary tools to succeed.
The Professional Science Master's program, launched in fall 2006, offers two other master's degrees, one in medical and bioinformatics and one in cell and molecular biology.
By Dottie Barnes
Students in image from left: Craig Johnson, Heather Houseman, Becky Twing, Justin Sjogren and Tom Holmes.
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There were more than 350 entries in the ninth annual Michigan Statistics Poster Competition for K-12. Judging of the posters took place March 15th on the Allendale campus of Grand Valley State University (GVSU). Statisticians and mathematics educators from GVSU, Eastern Michigan University, Central Michigan University, and Michigan State University had a very difficult task determining the winners from among so many interesting and well-done posters.
While Michigan's economic outlook continues to be bleak, the first five graduates from the Professional Science Master's program in Biostatistics at Grand Valley State University have all found jobs in Michigan.