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To provide a mathematics program for 24 very promising students who have risen to the top on the American Mathematics Competitions which will insure their interest in mathematics, broaden their view of mathematics and better prepare them for possible participation on our International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) team.

To provide the best example of the way mathematics instruction should be carried out.

To provide in depth enrichment in important mathematical topics to stimulate their continuing interest in mathematics and help prepare them for future study of mathematics.

To coach the IMO team, which was selected on the basis of the USA Mathematical Olympiad, to its highest level of performance in the IMO, and to achieve an atmosphere of comradeship and cooperation among the team and other participants which brings about feelings of cooperation and pride.

The rigorous curriculum and daily schedule of the MOSP is designed to achieve the goals of the program. The MOSP will give 24 students, including the six 1999 IMO team members and two alternates extensive practice in solving mathematical problems which require deeper analysis than those solved by students in even the best American high schools. Full days of classes and extensive problem sets will give students thorough preparation in several important areas of mathematics which are traditionally emphasized more in other countries than in the United States. These topics include combinatorics arguments and identities, generating functions, Pigeonhole Principle, inclusion exclusion, Ramsey's Theorems, graph theory, recurrence relations, telescoping sums and products, probability, number theory, polynomials, theory of equations, complex numbers in geometry, algorithmic proofs, combinatorial and advanced geometry, functional equations and classical inequalities. Acquaintance with and understanding of these topics is important for reasonable performance in an IMO. The MOSP program ensures that the IMO record of the United States properly reflects the energy and creativity of its brightest students.

Following the MOSP, the six member USA team will travel to the IMO site.

The Office of Naval Research has traditionally underwritten the MOSP instructional costs and participant support, while the Matilda Wilson Foundation provides travel funds for the participant travel, and the University of Nebraska Lincoln provides its campus facilities and reduction in room and board fees.

Selection of the 24 students for the MOSP is based on the results of the United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO). The top 8 students are automatic selectees, and then the non-seniors from the next 17 highest scoring participants are chosen. If at this stage the total number selected is less than 24 then a new index is determined by adding 9 times the USAMO score to the original student index. The ordering of this new index is then used to select additional non-seniors to complete the total of 24.

The 1999 MOSP will be held at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, the headquarters of the American Mathematics Competitions. This site was selected for the following reasons:

1. A quiet, scholarly environment.
2. Excellent classrooms available at all times.
3. Excellent library accessible to staff and students.
4. Comfortable living quarters.
5. Recreation facilities available at all times.
6. Suitable area for students to study.
7. Area for relaxing.
8. Excellent communication with the host institution.
9. Suitable equipment for producing tests, notes, etc.
10. Comfortable common room or area, with good blackboards.
11. Air-conditioned rooms, including the dormitory.
12. Geographical location--15 minutes from the airport.
13. Excellent meal service accommodating special meal requests.
14. Availability of computer and eMail.
15. Availability of the University Student Union.
16. Cost effectiveness.