Submitted by MATHCOUNTS

POCATELLO — Middle school students across Southeast Idaho are enjoying math with a burst of bovine flare. Local ON Semiconductor engineer Billie Johnson often works with students in a flannel cow suit and shiny red cape emblazoned with a black and white calculator. 

“I hope to steer kids toward math and science and show them how udderly fun it can be. Who wouldn’t love math when it’s taught by a cow-culator?"

The Cow-culator volunteers with a program called MATHCOUNTS®, which is a nationwide enrichment, club and competition program that promotes middle school mathematics. Currently in its 30th year, MATHCOUNTS is one of the largest and most successful education partnerships in the nation, involving volunteers, educators, industry sponsors and students. For 12 years, Johnson has coached for the Pocatello Community Charter School team, but she recently appeared at Hawthorne and Irving Middle Schools to recruit for the program. 

The Idaho Society of Professional Engineers provides materials and organizes the many volunteers from other organizations and companies needed to bring the competition to Southeast Idaho. 

To make a tax-deductible donation, contact Brion Kettler at Walker Engineering, 208-234-8005. Both individual and corporate donations are needed. The competition will be in February at Idaho State University, co-sponsored by the College of Science and Engineering. Contact Richard at Feuerborn Associates Engineering, 208-904-3170 for more information, or to volunteer. Winners at the regional level will go to the state competition in Boise in March, and winners there will travel to Washington, D.C., for the MATHCOUNTS national competition in May.  Additional information is also available at www.mathcounts.org.