High School Math Skill Award

The TrigStar Program Contest is an annual high school mathematics competition sponsored by the National Society of Professional Surveyors based on the practical application of Trigonometry. The program recognizes the best students from high schools throughout the nation.

The Genesee Valley Land Surveyors Association (GVLSA) is actively involved with the Trig-Star program at high schools within the region.

The purpose of the TrigStar Program:

• To promote the study of trigonometry in high school and to promote excellence in the mastery of trigonometry by honoring the individual student who has demonstrated superior skill among classmates at the High School level.

• To acquaint the high school trigonometry students with the use and practical application of trigonometry in the surveying profession.

• To build an awareness of surveying as a profession among the mathematically-skilled high school students, career guidance counselors and high school math teachers.

During the school year, local Land Surveyors will coordinate with local high schools to arrange to give a presentation about mathematics in the Land Surveying and Mapping professions - and administer the Trig-Star Local Exam (Level I).  The exams are given and scored, and a Regional Winner is declared (often, a Local Winner is declared for each participating school).  The names of the Regional Winners are forwarded to the State Coordinator in May of the school year and a State Winner is chosen.  All State Winners are then eligible to take the Trig-Star National Exam (Level II), and three National Winners are chosen (1st, 2nd and 3rd place).

GVLSA makes a monetary award available to each high school's Local Winner, and an additional award is given to the Regional Winner.  If chosen as State Winner, an award is available from the New York State Association of Professional Land Surveyors, the Trig-Star Sponsoring organization for New York State.  Each State Winner is eligible to compete to become one of three National Winners.  The National Society of Professional Surveyors (NSPS) provides a monetary award for the winning students and a corresponding monetary award for each student's trigonometry teacher.

In addition, all students participating in the Trig-Star Program at any level are eligible to apply for the NSPS Annual Trig-Star Scholarship,  which can be used to enroll in a college degree program that leads to either a two year
Associates degree or a four year program leading to a Bachelor degree in surveying and mapping.

For more information about the Trig-Star Program, Exams and Scholarship, please visit the NSPS Trig-Star Website

GVLSA Regional Trig-Star Coordinator:  David Clark, L.S.
NYSAPLS State Trig-Star Coordinator:  Ed Summerhays, L.S.