Program areas at Mu Alpha Theta
Annual convention - typically, every july, around 700 Mu Alpha Theta members, sponsors, and chaperones meet for five days to participate in three rounds of mathematics topic tests including: analytic geometry, limits/derivatives, statistics, number theory, and many others. Students take individual tests over multiple math topics. There are team math contests, speed and mental math tests, and a math-themed poster design contest. Some students prepare a math "chalk talk" to present to an audience on a selected math topic. Students attend speaker sessions presented by mathematicians. The national convention allows students who love math to interact with like-minded peers. Many of the particpants at the national convention continue to study mathematics in college due to an enjoyment of math fostered in part by participating in Mu Alpha Theta competitions, including the national convention.
Scholarships, grants, awards & prizes - academic scholarships - the Educational Foundation awarded 22 scholarships to outstanding Mu Alpha Theta graduating seniors in 2022. Scholarships were awarded to active members who were judged to be outstanding mathematics students and who have shown loyalty and enthusiastic dedication to their Mu Alpha Theta chapters with evidence of community service in mathematics. The top awardees received 5,000 scholarships. All other recipients received 4,000 scholarships. Scholarships were paid directly to the students' colleges to help pay for tuition and fees or were awarded as cash stipends to the students. Awards - the Educational Foundation gave awards to outstanding chapters, sponsors, and students. Sponsor received a 1,000 cash award for their exemplary service. One award of 2,500 was presented to a member who is studying to become a mathematics educator. Two teachers in their first two years of teaching were awarded a total of 1,200 to advance their teaching.
Support the national high school & two-year college mathematics honor societys mission - the Mu Alpha Theta Educational Foundation helped to further the goals of Mu Alpha Theta by funding grants, awards, and scholarships to its members, sponsors (teachers), and chapters. These grants, awards, and scholarships relieved some of the financial burden of attending college for members, helped new teachers purchase math supplies for their classrooms so they could confer the enjoyment of mathematics on their students, and funded recognition awards to superior sponsors and their schools. Additionally, the Foundation's funds were used to purchase honor cords, stoles, and tassels that in turn generate income for the Foundation and support its administrative costs. Supplies that were donated to the Foundation were provided to Mu Alpha Theta chapters and members.