As a small organization on campus, the Nicholls Math Club prepares to host a huge math competition in its fifth official year.
In previous years, the Math Club has invited Louisiana high schools to Nicholls to compete in MACH, otherwise known as Math Challenge. This year will mark the fourth time that the club has hosted the MACH. It will take place in May.
Dr. Brian Heck, associated professor of mathematics and Math Club sponsor, says MACH is used as a recruiting tool to introduce future Nicholls students to the club and the school.
“Nicholls gets some students who become math majors and previously competed in MACH competitions,” Heck said.
Since this is the main event the club executes, they have bake sales, sell club t-shirts and recently had a Raising Canes Fundraiser on Pi day (March 14) to support the competitions. Many alumni are also involved in supporting the club by purchasing their items, donating and performing volunteer work.
Aside from MACH, the club hosts various social gatherings for everyone to attend to get students more involved with Nicholls.
“We had a movie night with pizza, bowling nights and have done cookouts at the park and just have a good time,” Heck said. “It’s primarily a social club with a common interest of liking math.”
Melissa Victor, mathematics graduate from Houma, is president of the club. As president, she is usually the person to organize and execute every event Math Club does. She also invites anyone interested in joining to come to a meeting.
“Come to a meeting or talk to someone in the club to see what people feel about it,” Victor said. “We always have fun, and we always have cookies too so it’s a good incentive to come.”
The Math Club meets every other Tuesday at 1 p.m. in room 114 Peltier Hall.
Despite the name, the club has a variety of majors totaling to forty members.
“It’s not a math major club,” Heck said. “We have people from different majors admit they enjoy math.”
Victor said when she was an undergrad; she was not involved in clubs.
“Math club got me involved at Nicholls and I met people that I would not have normally met in class,” Victor said. “Even though some of us are big math nerds, we’re not all like that; we’re just cool people that like to have fun and be social.”
