Redmond Sophomore Will Compete in International Math Olympiad

REDMOND, Wash. - June 13, 2014 - PRLog -- Recently Caleb Ji, a sophomore at The Bear Creek School, learned he has been selected to train and compete as one of six members of the Canadian team at the 55th annual International Mathematical Olympiad (http://www.imo2014.org.za/), which will be held July 3-13, 2014 in Cape Town, South Africa. His pursuit of this honor took persistence and most of the school year.

In November 2013, Caleb, who lives in Kirkland but is a Canadian citizen, competed in the Canadian Open Math Competition and finished in second place. This result qualified him to compete in the 2014 Sun Life Financial Canadian Mathematical Olympiad (http://cms.math.ca/MediaReleases/2014/cmo-results) where he placed third overall. Not surprisingly, with these results people noticed and Caleb caught the attention of the Canadian Mathematical Society. They were interested in having Caleb compete on the national team, but in order to qualify he still had to compete in two more Math Olympiads which are essentially grueling mathematical exams. He was asked to take the six hour, six question Asian Pacific Math Olympiad and then the USA Math Olympiad which is a nine hour, six question exam. Caleb achieved high marks on both exams, even receiving honorable mention recognition from the Asian Pacific Math Olympiad. Two weeks ago he walked into math teacher and Math Department Chair Steven Prokopchuk’s classroom and said, “I did it!” He had made the Canadian team.

The International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) is the World Championship Mathematics Competition for high school students and is held annually in a different country. The first IMO was held in 1959 in Romania, with seven countries participating. It has gradually expanded to over 100 countries from five continents, representing over 90% of the world's population. The IMO is the oldest, biggest, and most prestigious of all the international science Olympiads. All of the top countries: the United States, Russia, China, Japan, Britain, Canada, Korea, … send their brightest six students. There simply is no higher division, no next exam after this one. The IMO Advisory Board ensures that the competition takes place each year and that each host country observes the regulations and traditions of the IMO.

Last year as a freshman, Caleb qualified for the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad which is the elite competition for American math students. Caleb competes on Bear Creek’s Upper School math team and varsity tennis team. During JanTerm he co-teaches a seminar on number theory with Mr. Prokopchuk. Bear Creek's JanTerm program is a two week mini-semester during which all Middle School and Upper School students enroll in four topical seminars which enhancedepthand dialogue of courses offered at the school. Also as a freshman, Caleb was awarded a Dr. Nancy Price Scholarship (full, renewable tuition scholarship) from The Bear Creek School.

About The Bear Creek School

Founded in 1988, in Redmond, Washington, The Bear Creek School (www.tbcs.org) is an independent classical Christian school that believes only when faith, mind, and heart are fed together can someone experience the fullness of education, which produces leaders who think well and are compelled to engage the world.

The school serves students from the greater Eastside and is housed on four campuses.  Redmond Campus on Union Hill serves kindergarten to grade 12 students and Valley Campus, also in Redmond, serves preschool to grade 5 students. Bear Creek has two Early Childhood campuses in Woodinville and Sammamish serving preschool and prekindergarten students. The Bear Creek School is accredited by the Northwest Association of Schools, Colleges and Universities, and the Pacific Northwest Association of Independent Schools.