NYSMATYC Mathematics League
After a panel discussion on mathematics competition at the 1970 Annual NYSMATYC Conference, eight New York State community colleges agreed to hold a math contest in the spring of 1970. A total of fifty students participated in the contest. The winning team was from Jamestown Community College. This event represented the beginning of the Two-Year College Mathematics League.
The 1970-71 academic year was the first full year of competition. Four contests were to be administered each year. Carmine DeSanto (Nassau Community College) was coordinator of the League---a position he would maintain until 1977. Expenses incurred by the League (mailing, prizes, printing, etc.) were paid by NYSMATYC and the MATYC Journal.
Unfortunately, only four New York State community colleges participated in the
1970-71 competition. It was agreed that in order to arouse greater interest and
competition, membership in the League be extended to all two-year colleges in
the nation. The name was changed to the National Student Two-Year College
Mathematics League.
Over the next several years, membership in the Math League increased slowly but
steadily. By 1977, twenty one two-year colleges were participating in the Math
League including seven New York State colleges. In 1978, the sponsorship of the
National Math League was assumed by AMATYC.
In 1980, the NYSMATYC Executive Board decided to form a Mathematics League for New York State two-year colleges. Such a league would provide a challenge and inspire interest in mathematics as well as provide friendly competition among the two-year colleges in the state. Colleges could elect to participate in the national competition, as well. Don Cohen (SUNY Cobleskill) agreed to coordinate the state competition.
The 1980-81 academic year was the first year of activity. Two contests were administered-- the first in the fall and the second in the spring. The combined scores of the top five scorers from each college comprised the total team score. This format has continued to the present. Seven two-year colleges participated, with Coming Community College emerging as the winner. The winning team received a plaque and members of the winning team received t-shirt awards. The top five scorers received a pen set.
Under the leadership of Don Cohen from 1980-1982 and subsequent direction given by Tom Enderli (Alfred, 1982-1983), Richard Rupprecht (Jamestown Community College, 1983-1986), Paul O'Heron (Broome Community College, 1986-1990), Joan Shack (Hudson Valley Community College, 1990-1992), and Don Willner (Mohawk Valley Community College, 1992- present), the Math League has grown to over four hundred students from twenty two-year colleges participating in the competition. One of the highlights of the Annual Spring Conference is the announcement of the winning team.
A team trophy resides at the campus of the winning team each year. Prizes for the ten top- scoring individual contestants (combined fall/spring contest scores) include mathematics software (such as Maple, MathCAD, Derive, Converge, Enable, Powerline, Scientific Notebook, and Minitab) and a selection from the library of mathematics, science, and computer bestsellers.
The winning teams of the NYSMATYC mathematics contests are:
1980-1981
Coming Community College
1981-1982 Monroe Community College
1982-1983 Monroe Community College
1983-1984 Monroe Community College
1984-1985 Monroe Community College
1985-1986 Ulster Community College
1986-1987 Broome Community College
1987-1988 Hudson Valley Community College
1988-1989 Hudson Valley Community College
1989-1990 Coming Community College
1990-1991 Broome Community College
1991-1992 Onondaga Community College
1992-1993 Onondaga Community College
1993-1994 Queensborough Community College
1994-1995 Hudson Valley Community College
1995-1996 Mohawk
Valley Community College
1996-1997
Cayuga Community College
1997-1998 Borough of Manhattan CC
1998-1999
Cayuga Community College
1999-2000 Onondaga Community College
2000-2001 Hudson Valley Community College
2001-2002 Broome Community College
2002-2003 Onondaga Community College
2003-2004 Monroe Community College
2004-2005 Westchester Community College
2005-2006 Nassau Community College