Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students - Math Scholars Named - Aidan Coyne

INSTITUTE OF CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING FOR GIFTED AND TALENTED STUDENTS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MATH SCHOLARS NAMED
The Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury is proud to announce that Aidan Coyne, a student at Garden City Middle School, is among the 79 students this year to be named a Long Island Young Scholar of Mathematics and was accepted by the Institute to pursue mathematics and mathematical science applications.  
To qualify for this honor, the 79 students who were selected for the Institute's three divisions competed against approximately 700 of the top ranking students nominated from school districts on Long Island.  Selection by the Institute implies that a student is among the top one-tenth of one percent in math of all students on Long Island in his or her grade.  Acceptances were based on five criteria:  nomination, school transcript, teacher recommendation, a brief statement written by the student and a rigorous entrance exam.  Funding of the Institute comes from corporate, foundation and individual contributors who believe that offering programs tuition free maintains equal accessibility to all students who qualify.  
Each student is expected to spend 60 hours in class over the course of 20 Saturday mornings, and on related outside projects.  The curriculum will cover mathematical topics from algebra, geometry, discrete math and number theory.  Topics not included in the standard courses of study, such as problem solving applied to probability, drawing of ocean bottom profile, theory of finite differences, topics in science and mass point geometry will also be presented.  
Participants will develop their ability to use a variety of problem-solving skills and strategies; increase their interest and enthusiasm for problem-solving in mathematics; sharpen their mathematical intuition and develop their "brain power;" become acquainted with interesting and important mathematical ideas; and experience the fun, satisfaction, pleasure, and thrill of discovery associated with creative-problem solving.  
Over the years, many of the Institute graduates have gone on to win prestigious awards, including national and international math, science, and engineering contests.  A number of alumni of the Institute have been selected as Intel and Siemens awardees in math, science or technology.   The Director and Founder of the Institute was Dr. Jong Pil Lee, Distinguished Service Professor at SUNY College at Old Westbury and 2005 United States Presidential Awardee for Excellence for Science, Math and Engineering Mentoring who passed away on December 12, 2011.  The current director is Mr. Arthur Kalish, a math teacher at Syosset High School with 44 years in the classroom, chief problem editor for MOEMS, editor/author of the monthly Calendar in NCTM's Mathematics Teacher Magazine, VP for NCIML in charge of the Nassau Mathematics Tournament and a volunteer in the working group and on the advisory council for MoMath the only Museum of Mathematics in America opening in Manhattan on December 15.
Parent Workshops are presented on a variety of topics, including how to enhance parent/student communications, improve gifted student self awareness, and how to foster children's interest in mathematics, science, and technology.  Workshop presenters include Lisa A. Whitten, Clinical Psychologist, Associate Professor of Psychology and Elizabeth Wissner- Gross, educational strategist who helps high school students discover their academic passions, develop inspiring academic goals, and  pursue exciting and challenging college experiences.  
The institute is supported by SUNY College at Old Westbury, the Nassau County Mathematics Teachers Association, the Suffolk County Mathematics Teachers Association, the Nassau County Interscholastic Mathematics League, the Nassau County Association of Mathematics Supervisors, and Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools in addition to the advisory board of the newly formed Institute of MERIT.   Visit us at:  http://www.institutecreativeproblemsolving.org/index.htm