Lincoln learner shines at National and Regional Math Contests

This semester, Grade 8 student Hanxi got 3rd place nationally in the Olimpíada Matemática Ñandú. Due to her performance, she then went on to compete at the regional Olimpíada Matemática Rioplatense, where she earned a Bronze Medal in Level A. Discover her journey!

Resilience is something Lincoln students share as they grow in our school, and Hanxi's math achievement perfectly reflects this. This semester, she participated in the Olimpíada Matemática Ñandú (OMÑ), held in La Falda, Córdoba. After competing in Level 3 of the competition, she won 3rd place, also known as Segundo Subcampeón. Hanxi’s triumph at the OMÑ opened the door to a higher level of competition: the Olimpíada Matemática Rioplatense. In this regional contest, held in Victoria, Buenos Aires Province, she competed against other students from Latin America and ultimately won the Bronze Medal in Level A. 

How did this epic journey begin? By believing that no problem is too difficult to solve.

Olimpíada Matemática Ñandú

Although an 8th-grade student, Hanxi's passion, already tackling 9th-grade math, was evident from the start. The Olimpíada Matemática Ñandú is an annual contest and the primary-school branch of the Olimpíada Matemática Argentina (OMA). It has five stages, going from Escolar to Interscolar, Zonal, Regional, and, finally, National; the entire competition usually runs from April to November. Hanxi not only went through all these stages, but she also completed individual, written, problem-solving tests, where she had to show her reasoning. 

With only a calculator and around two and a half hours per paper, Hanxi persisted and reached the National stage, typically held in La Falda, Córdoba. Navigating the final round meant passing a written test and an oral presentation. During this final round, Hanxi showed her problem-solving process and answered questions from the panel, entirely in Spanish. 

“We are glad Hanxi was able to be a part of this challenging experience and to bring away such good results,” Middle School Principal Tracy Arnold shared. “Congratulations, Hanxi. And special thank you to High School Math Teacher Carrie Brinkman for organizing the opportunity and for supporting the Lincoln students,” High School Principal Dr. David Nelson added. But this competition was just the start. Hanxi’s next step was regional!

Olimpíada Matemática Rioplatense

From December 4 to December 9, Hanxi's next stop was a retreat house in Victoria, Buenos Aires Province, where the Olimpíada Matemática Rioplatense has been held for many years. She went as part of the Argentine Team, which had 12 students: the top 3 winners from each of the three levels of the OMA, and the top 3 from the Ñandú Level 3. Because it’s a regional competition, she got the chance to compete with participants from Uruguay, Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, and Bolivia.

But the experience was not only academically enriching. There was time for regional exchange and a holistic experience. Besides playing games and putting together a theatre show with participants from other countries, Hanxi got the opportunity to learn from the teachers, former Olympians, and peers from across Latin America. And that was just their free time. The real deal came the next two days, with morning mathematics competitions followed by afternoon problem-explanation sessions.

In the end, all the effort paid off. During the final ceremony, Hanxi was awarded the Bronze Medal in Level A. “We are truly proud of Hanxi’s achievement and grateful for the school’s continued support throughout this journey,” Hanxi’s family shared. Competing in such contests not only is an opportunity for Hanxi to challenge her math knowledge, but also to polish her public speaking skills, build confidence, and make new connections with other peers.