MathCounts is the nationwide math coaching and competition for middle school students. It promotes student interest in math by making math achievement as challenging, exciting and prestigious as a school sport. The mission of MathCounts is to increase interest and involvement in mathematics among all intermediate school students in order to assist in developing a technically literate population essential to U.S. global competitiveness and the quality of life.
MathCounts in Hawaii has been sponsored by the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers (HSPE) since 1984. ASME-HI participation dates back to 1984. Currently, three ASME-HI members are on the Hawaii MathCounts Steering Committee. Guy Pasco is in charge of the competition day computer printouts, Ron Flegal is in charge of test administration, and Ed Chang recruits volunteer scorers and proctors. James Grogan has been the competition test moderator for several years.
The Oahu Competition is held in February, and the Hawaii State Competition is held in March.
TEAMS is for Tests of Engineering Aptitude, Mathematics and Science. It was developed by the nonprofit educational organization Junior Engineering Technical Society (JETS) designed to enhance high school students' interest in science and engineering. JETS sponsors contests annually across the USA aimed to get high school students interested in engineering by giving them real-world engineering problem-solving experiences.
Here in Hawaii the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering sponsors the TEAMS Competition. The competition is a one-day, open-book examination in which teams of Hawaii high school students answer multiple choice and open-ended engineering questions, and then prepare reports or design plans based on the test problems.
The TEAMS Competition program uses volunteer mentors from the engineering profession. The Engineer mentors work closely with the high school instructor/coach and the student teams to prepare for the competition tests. In past years, ASME-HI members Ron Flegal, Jim Grogan, Guy Pasco, Chester Kaitoku, Ray Liu, Ed Chang, and Keith Block have mentored at one or more of the following high schools: Radford, Maryknoll, and Mililani High Schools. Next year Jim Grogan will be mentoring at Kalani High School, and Ron Flegal plans to mentor at Mililani High School.
The Professional Engineer Exam Refresher Course is an annual event of the Hawaii Section. Recently, it was coordinated and conducted by Guy Pasco. More recently, Raymond Liu has taken over the organization and coordination of the course.
Back in 1995 James F. Grogan spearheaded the process to designate the Ginaca Machine as the first and only ASME International Historical Landmark in Hawaii. This was a long process culminating with a grand ceremony at the Dole Cannery Mall. Unfortunately, with the demise of the Iwilei Cannery, the ASME Landmark plaque is in need of a home. There has been talk about placing the plaque at the Dole facilities near the Helemano Plantation. The Ginaca Machine Landmark designation may not survive in the islands that are "going to the tourists."