Concordia Students Excel in Math Competitions and Beyond

When it comes to academics, our students are the real headliners! They’re not just hitting the books; they’re hitting the global stage in competitions like VEX Robotics, the World Scholar’s Cup, the American Mathematics Competitions, the National Science League, the PhysicsBowl, and the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), to name a few. This school year, our students have been grabbing victory in the math arena, and we are proud to celebrate their achievements! 

American Mathematics Competition (AMC) 

During the 2023-24 school year, our students from elementary to high school took on the American Mathematics Competitions (AMC), bringing home a trove of achievements! 

A round of applause for our 5th graders, William L. and Ziming T., who soared to victory by earning a spot on the AMC 8 Achievement Roll, an honor typically claimed by 6th to 8th-grade participants.   

AMC 8 Achievement Roll

AMC 8 Global Honor Roll of Distinction, top 7.3% among participants in China region

AMC 8 Global Honor Roll, top 21.3% among participants in China region 

AMC 10 Achievement Roll   

But that’s not all! Landing in the top 5% on the AMC 12 and top 2.5% on the AMC 10, a total of 16 Concordia students qualified for a more challenging test, the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME). In this 15-question, 3-hour examination, high school students Jerry Y., Maxwell W. and Cathy T. achieved outstanding scores that have us all beaming with pride.    

It’s easy to see that, when speaking about the competition, these students truly know their stuff! Not only that, but they have come away from the experience with a drive to take their already brilliant math skills to a new level.  

“I found the concepts between math competitions and AP Calculus BC very connected. For example, I noticed that I may apply derivatives to find the smallest area possible in some AIME questions, using Calculus and Algebra, which can be more step-efficient than just plain calculations.” –Jerry Y., G10  

“My experience with the AMC and AIME has motivated me to study theoretical mathematics and exposed me to a wide variety of mathematical fields that I could explore further.” –Maxwell W., G10 

“Participating in math competitions has given me the opportunity to push myself to incorporate more creativity into mathematics. I have come to view mathematics as an intricate web of interconnected concepts that require fluid and innovative problem-solving.” –Cathy T., G11 

Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC)  

What’s more, Cathy’s stellar math journey continues with SUMaC acceptance! For the 2nd year in a row, apart from qualifying for AIME, Cathy was admitted by the highly selective Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC). For Cathy, attending SUMaC is a chance to delve into the depths of mathematics in a way that's as enriching personally as it is academically.    

Cathy with her friends at SUMaC  

“SUMaC allowed me to experience math as a dynamic, creative subject rather than just an individual pursuit. By engaging with other students there, I learned new approaches to critical thinking in ways I had never considered.” –Cathy T., G11   

Math Kangaroo 

Adding to our celebration, grades 1-6 students leaped to victory in the 2024 Math Kangaroo, securing an impressive haul of accolades that has the whole school cheering: 2 National Top Gold, 8 National Gold, 7 National Silver, 8 National Bronze, and 10 National Proficiency Awards. But the numbers only tell part of the story. Hear what the National Top Gold medalists say about their experiences:  

“I really enjoy math and solving hard problems. The Math Kangaroo competition gave me challenges that I liked and further increased my interest in math.” –Aiden L., G1 

“Winning the national top gold award feels amazing. Participating in Math Kangaroo has helped me build my confidence. It also made me more interested in mathematics and excited about learning new concepts. It has encouraged me to explore more STEM subjects and consider future studies in these areas.” –William L., G5 

Kudos to our young mathematicians for their stellar performance and a bright future in numbers!