Ten Years In, Mathapalooza Spreads the Joy of Math

Mathapalooza started a decade ago as exactly the sort of event that name would imply — an invitational, gleeful exploration of the sometimes-dreaded school subject.

That was the goal — to make mathematics approachable and even fun for young students. For Zdenka Guadarrama, Ph.D., professor of mathematics who founded Mathapalooza with a colleague, what started as a single-day event has turned into a program that has reached thousands of students in Kansas City and well beyond.

Mathapalooza started as a one-day experience with activities on campus for students from around the city. And while that was successful in reaching those students, Guadarrama said the organizers always wondered if there was a better way to reach new audiences. In the years since, Mathapalooza has evolved into a multipronged approach that can go anywhere and reach any audience.

A lot of that development has come through trial and error, as well as feedback and requests from teachers. Guadarrama now has math activities that can travel anywhere, events where students can learn about careers in math firsthand, professional development for teachers about math enriched teaching, STEAM-focused events, and, more recently, virtual field trips.

Thinking outside the box worked — in 2021 alone, there were 76 different Mathapalooza events, with close to 2,000 participants reached. Success is also reflected in the feedback she receives from teachers and students

“I’m very proud about the good reception that it’s had. And when we go places, the kids always want to come back and say, ‘Can we learn math like this every day?’” she said.

As the offerings have grown, so too have the list of participating sites, which now includes a school in Mexico and a growing list of community sponsors who help make the program possible.

And the program shows no signs of stopping. In its 10th year, Mathapalooza is poised to expand even further, with partnerships emerging with the Kansas City Public Schools, the KC Royals Urban Youth Baseball Academy, a new website, and offerings in conjunction with the Girl Scouts’ new math in nature badge. And at every opportunity, Guadarrama said, she plans to highlight the program that has been her passion for so long.

“Everything we do during the year is going to be a celebration,” she said.

The entire campus will have the opportunity to celebrate at a Mathapalooza birthday party on campus, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, March 31. Guadarrama will send additional details soon. Mathapalooza sponsors include Cerner Corporation, JE Dunn, the Mathematical Association of America and the DeBruce Foundation.