Unity Point students Will Presley (left) and Everett Pangrazio (right) both received bronze medals for scoring high on the American Mathematics Olympiad. The annual international competition is organized by SIU Carbondale in collaboration with the Singapore International Mastery Contests Center. (Photo by Brooke Keltner)
June 03, 2026
SIU recognizes local medalists in its international math competition
CARBONDALE, Ill. — Loud applause and cheers filled Unity Point Community Consolidated School District 140’s gymnasium as a group of seventh- and eighth-grade students received medals for placing in Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s American Mathematics Olympiad (AMO).
The recognition took place May 18 during Unity Point Junior High Awards Day, when 52 students in grades four through eight received a bronze, silver or gold medal. Meanwhile, 31 other students received honorable mention certificates.
The Olympiad is an international math competition for elementary, middle and high school students held by SIU’s STEM Education Research Center (SERC). The competition began in 2021 to engage students in challenging, high-quality mathematics problems and critical thinking skills.
Harvey Henson, director of the SERC, took part in handing out medals and certificates to Unity Point students, in what he calls, one of the most meaningful aspects of the AMO competition.
“It is incredibly rewarding,” Henson said. “Behind every medal is a tremendous amount of hard work, dedication, support from teachers and families, and a willingness to challenge oneself.”
The competition
In the fall, students take the AMO test, which lasts 90 minutes and features 25 questions worth 100 points. The types of math and questions become more advanced with each grade level.
The test, which is based on U.S. Common Core Standards, is open to students in public, private, charter, and home-based schools, and aims to strengthen students’ math literacy and encourage greater interest in STEM.
“The STEM Education Research Center’s faculty, staff, and student researchers collaborate to design rigorous, age-appropriate problems that emphasize higher-order thinking and authentic mathematical reasoning rather than simple memorization,” Henson said about the test’s level of difficulty.
The test is jointly organized by the Singapore International Mastery Contests Center (SIMCC), which is led by Henry Ong, an SIU Carbondale alumnus committed to advancing STEM internationally. SIMCC is responsible for administering the AMO outside of the United States.
More than 6,000 schools are enrolled in 50 countries with nearly 50,000 student participants. Medals and certificates indicate students are high-ranking on an international level and are handed out as follows:
- Gold medals are awarded to students in the top 8% of participants.
- Silver medals are awarded to students in the next 12% of participants.
- Bronze medals are awarded to students in the next 20% of participants.
- Honorable mention is given to students who performed well and scored just below the medal-award threshold.
Unity Point
Eight-graders Will Presley and Everett Pangrazio have competed and placed in the competition before, and this year both students earned bronze medals. Presley believes the AMO is challenging, and he reviews his math notes before the competition.
“There’s geometry, statistics, and I’ve seen some very complicated equations,” said Presley, who is looking forward to attending Carbondale Community High School in the fall. “I’m stronger in other subjects but I find math fun because you can use it later in life.”
Pangrazio agrees with Presley that excelling in mathematics means learning lifelong skills. Pointing to a banner in the gymnasium recognizing a girls’ volleyball regional championship, he said, “You can use math to figure out how big that poster is. Math is everywhere and you’re always using it.”
All AMO participants receive a digital report detailing their performance as well as highlighting math strengths and areas for improvement. However, placing as a medalist typically comes as a surprise during end-of-the-year awards ceremonies.
Both Presley and Pangrazio said they always hope to rank as a gold, silver or bronze medalist, but never expect to place due to the test’s challenging questions.
“It’s surprising, and I’m happy that I ranked high enough in the competition to receive a bronze medal,” Pangrazio added.
Other Southern Illinois schools participating this year include Bunker Hill High School, Carbondale Middle School, Marion High School and Vienna Grade School.
An international stage
Many students who perform well in the AMO have opportunities to advance to higher-level international competitions and global finals events, pushing their math skills to the limit and immersing themselves in a new culture.
“These experiences allow students from different countries and educational systems to interact, collaborate, and challenge themselves in advanced mathematical problem solving,” Henson added.
Participants have gone on to receive scholarships and have successful careers in fields such as engineering, computer science, medicine, finance, data science, and scientific research.
Beyond the Competition
The STEM Education Research Center is also dedicated to community outreach, in support of this competition. Community partners, civic organizations, donors, and local businesses help sponsor participation fees for students and schools in their local communities. These partnerships expand access and reduce financial barriers for students or schools who want to compete.
Those interested can contact Henson, henson@siu.edu, to learn more about supporting the AMO and helping local students participate. Donations and support for AMO and SERC can also be given directly online at stemedresearch.siu.edu/about/give.php.