Win $500 for your Collegiate Chapter.

Each year MTNA presents the MTNA Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award to an outstanding Collegiate Chapter and its members for demonstrating exceptional organization and depth of activities. The winning chapter will receive a $500 prize and be recognized at the 2006 MTNA National Conference in Austin, Texas, March 25-29.

Sylvia Coats, NCTM, faculty advisor for Wichita State University, which won the award in 1991 and 2002, believes there's more to the award than the cash prize:

"Winning the award twice has been a big boost to the morale of the Wichita State University Collegiate Chapter. When the chapter won the award the first time in 1991, the chapter president became the first WSU student to attend the national conference. Since that time, it has become a goal each year to send students to the conference, and the chapter raises travel funds through grants and activities."

Sigrid Luther, NCTM, faculty co-advisor with Sin-Hsing Tsai, for the Chattanooga Area Collegiate Chapter, which won the award in 2004, thinks that applying for the MTNA Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award has a two-fold purpose:

"Winning the 2004 Collegiate Chapter of the Year Award was a surprise and a thrill for our members! It was an affirmation that our efforts at establishing a multi-school chapter had been successful! I would encourage all collegiate chapters to consider applying for this award. The process is simple. An extra benefit of the program is that its criteria can be a helpful guide as chapters plan their activities."

Being part of an award-winning Chapter was just icing on the cake on an already unique collegiate experience for students like Jessica Young. Young was immediate past president of the Weber State University Collegiate Chapter when it was named 2005 Collegiate Chapter of the Year:

"Being part of a Collegiate Chapter working toward a common goal was an awesome experience! As we worked together we found that we gained many other rewards other than the actual Student Chapter of the Year Award. Friendships were strengthened, providing a very enjoyable atmosphere to be in everyday at school. We enjoyed a greater number and variety of educational experiences. Activities provided us the stress relief we needed, the joy of serving, and happy memories we will always have with us. We learned together, worked together, and had fun together," Young says.