When people volunteer in their late teens or early 20s they tend to stay in the system longer.

At the end of the day, it's the level of service given to the community. It is not about the impact on us as a [system.] We'll do whatever it takes to make sure that level of service is there.

The people in charge of the program wanted to encourage kids to pursue math at the middle school level. And the competition is designed by engineers to fill a gap that they were seeing.

I think it's getting more extensive.

Many of my students are now looking to the high school level, and this competition has inspired them to continue with their interest in math. Math is going to be even more import as we get further into the technology age.

I have seen a jump-in motivation of the students. They are actually sad that they are not going to compete anymore. They enjoy the challenge and like solving the problems.