The Math Olympiad served as a platform to recognize the talent, discipline, and academic excellence of children and young people in the region. The Main Science Auditorium at the Industrial University of Santander (UIS) hosted the ceremony to award gold, silver, and bronze medals to outstanding students in the international competitions SASMO (Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad), IJIO (International Junior Informatics Olympiad), and SIMOC (Singapore International Math Olympiad Challenge).
During the ceremony, gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded to students from schools and educational institutions who excelled in these international competitions, where they put their knowledge, mathematical skills, logical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving abilities to the test.
The event served as an opportunity to recognize the effort behind each achievement and to highlight the commitment of the students, their families, teachers, and educational institutions to strengthening skills that extend beyond the classroom.
Talent That Transcends Borders
For the recognized students, achieving these results is the fruit of preparation, discipline, and perseverance in the face of tests that demand concentration, knowledge, and the ability to tackle new challenges.
“I’m happy about this achievement, which was very difficult to attain; the test was complex, but I made it,” said Marcos Esteban Bolaños, a student at Colegio Jorge Ardila Duarte, referring to the satisfaction of earning this recognition after tackling a test he described as complex.
Participating in these Olympiads also gives students the opportunity to represent their schools and Colombia on the international stage. This was expressed by Ángela Sofía Quiroga, from Gimnasio Superior Empresarial Bilingüe, who said she felt “very proud, especially to represent my country, to represent my school, and to help them reach such a high place on the podium.”
For Ángela Sofía, this recognition is also an opportunity to encourage other students to believe in their abilities and take advantage of experiences that allow them to discover and develop their talents.
“They should believe in themselves because you never know how many skills you have, and through these daily activities, you can develop them and achieve what once seemed impossible,” the student said.
Meyereth Darihanny Suárez had a similar experience; she highlighted the pride she felt in representing Colombia in an international competition and winning a silver medal.
“I’m very happy, because not many people get to represent Colombia on the international stage—it’s a rare achievement—and this time I had the opportunity to win a silver medal, and I feel very proud of my life,” she said.
More Than Just a Medal
The SASMO, IJIO, and SIMOC Olympiads are forums for learning and competition where students have the opportunity to test their knowledge and develop skills related to mathematics, computer science, logical thinking, and problem-solving.
Beyond the medals won, these experiences contribute to the development of skills such as concentration, analytical thinking, creativity, and perseverance, while allowing participants to tackle academic challenges on an international stage.
The ceremony held at UIS served to recognize not only the results achieved but also the entire process behind each accomplishment: the hours of preparation, the support from teachers and families, and the discipline required to take on challenges that push students to exceed their own limits.
For the Industrial University of Santander, hosting this event represents an opportunity to introduce new generations to science, technology, mathematics, and innovation, by fostering environments that stimulate curiosity, critical thinking, and an interest in knowledge.
Each medal awarded thus represents much more than just a result. It is recognition of the efforts of young people who found in mathematics, computer science, and problem-solving an opportunity to demonstrate their abilities, represent their institutions, and set their sights on new academic challenges.
For the UIS, these achievements also serve as an invitation for more children and young people to trust in their talent, dare to take on new challenges, and discover that what seems impossible can become, with preparation, discipline, and perseverance, an attainable goal.
