Lincoln Learner competed in the final round of the 32nd Ñandú Mathematics Olympics

Santino, a middle school learner at Lincoln, participated in the Nationals of this highly recognized competition in Argentina. At the end of October, he went to Cordoba to challenge himself with students from all over the country.

Lincoln middle school student Santino competed in the final round of the 32nd Ñandú Mathematics Olympics. From October 24 to 27, our learner joined students from fifth to seventh grade to compete nationally at the Microestadio del Hotel Otto Calace, in La Falda, Córdoba.

The competition, which started last May, summoned 375 students from all over the country. All the participants went through five eliminatory stages: School Competition, Inter-School Competition, Zonal Contest, Regional Competition, and National Competition. During the process, learners had individual written math tests in Buenos Aires. Seven Lincoln learners also participated in the Olympics up till the Zonal round.  

Try out for things you want to do and never say you can’t do anything

What were the Nationals like?

The participants have two days of problem-solving with three exercises each day and two and a half hours to solve them. This contest encourages students to test their mathematical knowledge and develop resilience. “The experience was very fun. I got to meet new people and experience new things,” Santino shared with us in an interview. 

“I joined the competition because it seemed fun, and I wanted to try it out,” Santino explained.  When he learned he was going to Nationals, Santino made sure he was ready to face the last stage of this stimulating experience. Middle school Math teacher Michael Jobe shared the behind-the-scenes: “For the first three rounds, Santino had little to no preparation. However, for the Nationals, he studied past exam papers over a series of days throughout the break.”

When asked if he had any advice for fellow learners who seek growth and new experiences, he said: “Try out for things you want to do and never say you can’t do anything.” Our learners may be known as self-navigators, thinkers, and researchers, but definitions like Santino’s always hold the true core of the Condor Spirit: “A Lincoln learner is someone who wants to improve, study, learn, and be better every day.”