The OSU/MTC Marion Mathematics Challenge is a long-standing, annual academic competition hosted jointly on the Marion campus by The Ohio State University at Marion and Marion Technical College. Designed to encourage passion for STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), the competition brings together hundreds of the top-performing math students across central Ohio districts to test their quick-thinking and data-analysis capabilities.
According to Dr. Jennifer Schlueter, Dean and Director of Ohio State Marion, highlights, the challenge aims to build lifelong logical skills.
"Math skills give students stronger problem-solving habits by teaching them to analyze, reason and break down complex ideas, while also building the confidence needed to succeed in quantitative college classes that rely on data and statistics," said Schlueter
The math challenge isn't just about trophies; it serves as a gateway to higher education. Each year, the sponsoring institutions hand out tens of thousands of dollars in tuition scholarships.
The top individual scorers per grade-level receive split scholarship awards that can be applied to either educational institution.
- First Place Winners: $1,000 scholarship from each college ($2,000 total)
- Second Place Winners: $750 scholarship from each college ($1,500 total)
- Third Place Winners: $500 scholarship from each college ($1,000 total)
How Area Middle and High Schools Get Involved
The tournament operates as an invitation-only, district-vs-district event. Individual students cannot sign up on their own. Instead, local junior highs, middle schools, and high schools become involved through a structured collaboration.
Faculty Collaboration - The challenge was originally formed to bridge the gap between area secondary math educators and university faculty, sharing resources and recognizing standout mathematical talent.
School-Level Selection: Participating local math departments and teachers handpick their school's highest-achieving students to form their official district team roster.
Competing Districts: Frequent central Ohio participants include student cohorts representing: Elgin Local Schools, Marion Harding High School / Grant Middle School, Highland Local Schools, North Union Local Schools, Pleasant Local Schools, River Valley Local Schools and Ridgedale Local Schools
Event Schedule and Location
The competition separates its brackets across the academic year to accommodate different age levels.
High School Challenge - Traditionally scheduled in the winter (mid-December).
Middle School Challenge - Typically hosted in the spring (mid-to-late April or early May). Both events run for roughly a half-day session, usually 8 a.m. to noon, inside the Morrill Hall Auditorium on the Marion campus. While students take their rigorous exams, community groups like the Wm. Kay Davis Foundation and Wyandot Snacks supply the trophies, medals, and refreshments.
Information for Educators
If you are an educator or administrator in a central Ohio school district looking to enroll your middle school or high school math team in the next testing block, you can coordinate entry through Ohio State Marion with Associate Professor of Mathematics Scott Zimmerman at zimmerman.416@osu.edu.