High School Math Minds Go ‘Math to the Future’ at COCC Contest

April 2, 2026

Paying homage to a beloved sci-fi film and its imagined time-travel calculations, the annual High School Math Contest at Central Oregon Community College is going “Math to the Future” this year, hosting young math minds from across the region to compete in fun challenges from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 16, on the Bend campus.

Costumed math professors playing the parts of “Doc” Brown, Marty McFly and other characters from 1985’s “Back to the Future,” along with a gull-wing-doored DeLorean parked for team photo ops, will bring the theme to life as more than 150 high school students from 13 schools across Central Oregon — from Paisley to Mitchell to Sisters — compete in fun challenges across campus.

The long-running event, first held in 1978, includes a relay race, scavenger hunt and a name-that-tune-styled game. Students compete for prizes and awards.

“It’s a day of nonstop fun and games, with a celebration of math at the core,” said Jacquie Coe, department chair and associate math professor. “Our department loves to share how wonderful math can be, helping inspire high schoolers for future math exploration.”

The event is sponsored by Lonza Pharma and Biotech, concludes with an awards presentation. All students must be preregistered. For more information on the event, contact Cinda DeVoe at 541-383-7289 or cdevoe4@cocc.edu.

In advance of college events, persons needing accommodation or transportation because of a physical or mobility disability should contact campus services at 541-383-7775. For accommodation because of other disability such as hearing impairment, contact student accessibility services at sas@cocc.edu or 541-383-7583.