Date posted: 08/20/2009*

President Obama and Dr. John Holdren, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, hosted the winners of the 2009 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition in the Oval Office last week. The honorary guests included MATHCOUNTS National Individual Champion Bobby Shen, the national championship team from Texas and the second place team from Missouri.

Praise From the President

President Obama praised the finalists for their outstanding achievements and commitment to academic excellence and recognized the volunteer coaches for their invaluable service to the MATHCOUNTS program. He also encouraged the students to continue to develop their special abilities in mathematics for both themselves and the good of the nation.

"Our MATHCOUNTS coaches and volunteers are committed to putting fun and excitement into the math learning experience and making it as challenging and competitive as any school sport,” said Lou DiGioia, MATHCOUNTS executive director. “We know the president is a big proponent of mathematics literacy, and we're honored by his administration's support."

Wickham: Math Can Take You Anywhere

Pam Wickham, Raytheon vice president of Corporate Affairs and Communications and vice chair of the board of directors of MATHCOUNTS, was also in attendance.

“This visit to the White House is not only a tremendous honor but proof that success in math can take you anywhere, even to meet the President!,” said Wickham. ”MATHCOUNTS and programs such as Raytheon’s MathMovesU are constantly developing fun and innovative ways to encourage our nation’s students to pursue their passion for math.”

The 2009 Raytheon MATHCOUNTS National Competition took place May 8, 2009 at Walt Disney World’s Swan and Dolphin Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Raytheon Company will serve as the title sponsor of the competition through 2011.

Raytheon’s support of MATHCOUNTS is a component of its MathMovesU program, an initiative designed to engage U.S. middle school students in math and science through interactive learning programs, contests, events, scholarships, tutoring programs and more. Since its inception in 2005, MathMovesU has touched the lives of more than 900,000 students, teachers and parents.