Perfect 100-point scores were achieved by several high school students participating in the 59^th annual Rose-Hulman High School Mathematics Competition, which brought 275 students from 18 schools across Indiana and Illinois to campus November 1. Carmel High School captured top overall honors for the 16th consecutive year, followed by the Signature School (Evansville) and Terre Haute South Vigo High School. 

Students had one hour to solve 20 challenging problems spanning algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and number theory. 

“Our competition gives students an opportunity to stretch their problem-solving skills beyond what they see in their classrooms,” said Mathematics Professor John Rickert, PhD, who helped organize this year’s event. “It’s always exciting to see their enthusiasm for mathematics and how they support each other while tackling tough questions.” 

Students earning top honors in each class division included:

• Seniors: Allen Qian (Carmel, 100), Allison Shen (Carmel), Jennifer Hu (Carmel), Braedon Kohlenberger (Fishers), and Erica Zhao (Carmel)
• Juniors: Valerie Fu (Carmel), Rithvik Varigonda (Carmel), and a five-way tie for third among students from Normal Community, Hamilton Southeastern, and Carmel
• Sophomores: Alex Gao (Carmel, 100), Jeffrey Xu (Carmel, 100), Bryan Yu (Carmel, 100), and Shayen Maun (Brebeuf, 89) and Justin Warren (Park Tudor, 89)
• Freshmen: Hrishabh Bhowmik (Carmel, 100) and Sonia Bavishi (Terre Haute South, 85)

Winners of special awards included Hrishabh Bhowmik and Sonia Bavishi, recipients of the Sally Shonk Memorial Award, and Alex Gao, Jeffrey Xu, Bryan Yu, and Abigail Bullington, recipients of the Mary Rhein Memorial Award.

All results can be found here.

Participating schools included Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory, Carmel, Center Grove, Champaign Central, Covenant Christian, Cumberland, Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, Lutheran High School of Indianapolis, Marion, Noblesville, Normal Community, Northview, Park Tudor, Signature, Terre Haute North Vigo, and Terre Haute South Vigo. Middle school students from Honey Creek also took part as guests.

The Rose-Hulman High School Mathematics Competition has a long tradition of recognizing some of Indiana’s most talented problem solvers. Many past participants have gone on to earn distinctions such as Indiana’s Mr./Miss Math or Mr./Miss Science and selection to the U.S. International Mathematics Olympiad team.

Assisting Rickert in organizing this year’s competition were department colleagues William Butske, PhD; Kyle Claassen, PhD; and Leanne Holder, PhD, and Katie Lindsey.