Despite the COVID-19 pandemic making school more difficult for teachers and students, there were 137 entries in the 2021 Michigan Statistics Poster Competition for K-12 students. 

For the first time electronic file submissions were accepted along with physical submissions (i.e. paper posters).  These electronic submissions could be a picture file of the paper poster or a “digital poster” made entirely on a computer.  Both electronic and physical submissions will continue to be accepted in next year’s competition.

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 an entire class can work together on a poster. 

The winning posters in each grade category are:

K-3: Suah Kim; Ada Elementary School; "Do you like eggs?"

4-6:  Adelaide Schipper, AJ Yob; Ada Elementary; "Pet Adoptions in Kent County, 2019 vs. 2020"

7-9: Sara Gupta; Northern Hills Middle School; "Do Middle Schoolers Get Enough Hours of Sleep?"

10-12: Jason Hu; Saline High School; "Politicizing Coronavirus"

The top 5 posters and honorable mentions in each category are listed at the poster competition website www.gvsu.edu/stat/poster.  Photos and videos of the top 5 posters in each category as also displayed on the website as well. 

The first, second, and third place posters receive cash prizes of $72, $48, and $36  - respectively equally divided if students worked together.  The winning entrants’ schools receive plaques signifying the honor as well.  The top 5 posters in each category qualify for the national competition, sponsored by the American Statistical Association, whose judging will be complete by the end of May 2021.  All students who worked on a top-5 or honorable mention poster will receive electronic certificates. 

The poster competition committee wishes to express its thanks to the many teachers around the state that participated in this year’s competition, despite all the added challenges.  We look forward to seeing your students’ fantastic ideas put on poster board again next year. 

The competition is sponsored by the Regional Math and Science Center and the Department of Statistics at GVSU.