Five standout Kent School students recently brought home multiple honors from the 2025 MathCON Finals, held at McCormick Place in Chicago from May 9–11. Representing Kent were Arthur I. '25, Aaron S. '27, Selina Z. '28, Jerry X. '28, and William X. '28. 

To qualify for the in-person finals, each student scored in the top 5% nationwide on MathCON's initial online exam, a competition that draws over 34,000 students from across the U.S. and Canada, with only the top 628 scorers earning an invitation to the finals.

During the event, students tackled a rigorous 100-minute test consisting of 32 multiple-choice and constructed-response questions. Their hard work paid off with impressive results: Arthur won 3rd place overall among 12th graders, while Aaron, Selina, and William each earned Honorable Mention, placing them in the top 10 of their grade levels.

"The problems in these competitions are meant to be very difficult, and sometimes when you get stuck, you have to keep trying different ideas instead of giving up when your first idea doesn't work," shared Arthur. Beyond his individual success, he also placed 4th in a Rubik's Cube side competition, showcasing his wide-ranging problem-solving abilities.

For Jerry, time management added another layer of complexity during the competition. He developed strategies to tackle the challenging format efficiently, focusing on finding the quickest approach to each problem. 

Selina noted that the most challenging part for her was staying calm when faced with unfamiliar problems. “I reminded myself to take a breath and not panic,” she said, adding that skipping questions and returning to them helped her manage stress and use her time wisely.

The team's collective performance earned Kent School the 3rd place Outstanding School Award—a distinction that will be commemorated with a plaque. Their success reflects both individual talent and effective collaboration.

Beyond the competition, the trip offered memorable moments as the group explored Chicago together—sharing hot pot in Chinatown, visiting the University of Chicago, and preparing as a team back at the hotel. "I most enjoyed spending time with this group of people who I otherwise wouldn't have interacted with much," Arthur reflected. "I had a lot of fun getting off campus for a couple days and getting closer with the people in our group."

All five students emphasized how MathCON helped them grow both mathematically and personally. They reported gaining confidence, developing better stress-management strategies, and discovering a deeper interest in math. As Selina put it, she learned that “with the right mindset and preparation, I can handle more than I thought.” Aaron summed up the sentiment shared by many: "I also found myself more interested in math than before."

The MathCON Finals are hosted by Concept Schools in partnership with Mathnasium and the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM). The event promotes mathematical excellence while offering students from across North America a chance to connect and compete in a collaborative academic setting.

Congratulations to Arthur, Aaron, Selina, Jerry, and William for representing Kent School with such distinction!