Students excel in math taking the Trig-Star test

The Trig-Star test is an exam sponsored by the Profession Land Surveyor Council and it is held at Morgan High School each year. This year the test was given on April 24. The program is designed to invite students to consider the profession of a land surveyor. Land surveying is a profession that has slowly declined over the years; this means that more people are closer to retirement than there are new surveyors interested in joining the team. As a result, there are many job opportunities for students who might enjoy being land surveyors after graduation. 

The program requires a land surveyor to talk to the students about the profession and then administer a test to interested individuals a few months later. The top three students with the highest scores will receive cash prizes. In addition, their test scores will compete against each other and within the state to identify the top student. At that point, the students may have the opportunity to compete nationally. 

As the name suggests, the Trig-Star Test consists mainly of trigonometry problems. During the exam, participants will solve for the sides and angles of triangles by using the ratios sine, cosine, and tangent. In addition, multiple practice tests are available online to provide students with a chance to practice and study for the event. 

This year first place winner was senior, Lucy Tripp. Lucy was MHS 2023 Sterling Scholar for Math also winning in Region. She took BC Calculus as a junior and scored a five. Lucy scored perfect on her ACT. She was a finalist for the National Merit Scholar because of her high pSAT score. She received the National Merit Institutional Scholarship through Brigham Young University where she plans to study Applied Math. She won $200 for first place in the Trig-Star test.

Junior, Preston Johnson, came in second place receiving $100. Taking the test as a freshman he came in third place and was disappointed they didn’t offer the test his sophomore year. Preston has always had an aptitude for math, realizing at a young age it come easy to him. Preston hopes to be able to take the test once again his senior year. Unsure of a future career, he knows that math can be used in any number of occupations he chooses.

Freshman, Violet Webster, received $50 for coming in third place. Being the only freshman taking the test this year, Violet had not had the opportunity for take trigonometry, so she taught herself through YouTube videos. She was able to self pace herself in eighth grade math which resulted in her completing ninth grade math before entering high school. She too is also searching for a profession that involves math.