This contest allows students to experience mathematics at a higher level by considering problems for individuals and teams that require significantly more thought than the average high school level problems they may be used to.  Though the problems are accessible to those who have not yet had college level classes, the work and originality of thought required for such problems give students a better understanding of the effort and joy that is associated with higher level mathematics and related fields. This contest is also an opportunity for teachers to supplement their lesson plans and provide students with creative and competitive outlets. Students study patterns, analyze relationships, draft and refine their solutions.

2025 Contest

Award Ceremony: April 25, 2025

The keynote speaker at the Award Ceremony is Dr. Fumiko Futamura who will give a presentation on “Video Game Perspectives”:

Video game graphics have come a long way since the pixelated days of Pong and Space Invaders. With high-end graphics cards, there are now games like Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom with 3D environments that immerse you in the worlds they create. And yet, there are still very popular games like Celeste and Stardew Valley that don't use linear perspective. We explore how and why space is rendered differently in a variety of video games, and how these alternative methods can be used to create more mind-bending forms of play. 

Dr. Futamura is known for her work on the mathematics of perspective and perspective drawing. She is a professor of mathematics at Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, where she holds the Lord Chair in Mathematics and Computer Science. You can find some of her mathematics and art work on her website http://www.fumikofutamura.com. Dr. Futamura has given a TED Ed talk on “The mathematics of Sidewalk Illusions”.

Prizes

In 2025 there were 46 individual submissions as well as 20 team submissions from 10 different high schools. The contest's material (list of winners, problems and their solutions) can be found here. The prizes included

• $300 and a full four-year academic tuition scholarship (first place)

• $150 and a $2,500 per year scholarship for four years (each second place)

• $100 and a $2,500 per year scholarship for four years (each third place)

• $200 to the teachers of the winning team

• $150 to the teachers of the 2nd and 3rd place teams

• $100 to the teachers of teams receiving an honorable mention

Individual Results

1st Place: Max Dowell, Monrovia High School; Rendy Zhong, Columbus North High School

2nd Place: Kaavya Malu, Hamilton Southeastern High School; Shaurya Singh, Hamilton Southeastern High School; Xiao Emma Xiao, Hamilton Southeastern High School

3rd Place: Doyoung Kim, Canterbury High School; Shayen Maun, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School; Solomon Taylor, North Central High School

Team Results

1st Place: TMNT - Yasseen Hamdouchi, Dominik Miller, Isaac Rabuck, Solomon Taylor - North Central High School

2nd Place: Zero F(x)'s Given - Truman Greaves, Liam Hendry, Joseph Janicek, Adriel Klopper, David Tran - Zionsville Community High School

3rd Place: Too Sigma to Function - Matthew Iskandar, Ethan McKinney, Parker Melling, Tre Parks, Christopher Svilenov - Fishers High School

Honorable Mention: Byte Me - Parker Coyle, Carson Fu, Prabanjan Jayachandran, Vedaansh Jethlia, Andrew Qin - Zionsville Community High School

Honorable Mention: Kalc Kings - Aayush Rao, Rupesh Vats, Krishaan Vadia - Center Grove High School

Honorable Mention: Spiral of Theodorus Says No - Yonathan Bezza, Junaid Hassan, Matthew Krohn - Hamilton Southeastern High School

School Award 

Hamilton Southeastern High School: Mary Carson, Cindy Cooper, John Drozd, Erica Kelly & Jay Taylor (teachers)

Spirit Award 

Avon High School: Eric Pond and Anthony Record (teachers)