With a day full of excitement, talent, and academic spirit, the Universidad Industrial de Santander (UIS) closed the 14th UIS Primary School Mathematics Olympiad 2025, an event that brought together more than 13,500 students from 315 schools in 95 municipalities across the country in its initial phase, culminating in the grand final at the UIS Central Campus, where 239 finalists demonstrated their discipline, ingenuity, and love of mathematics.
The activity is organized by the School of Mathematics, with the support of professors, undergraduate and graduate students, and has established itself as one of the University’s most important initiatives to strengthen scientific education and awaken early vocations. In this edition, 17 students from remote regions such as Arauca, Vaupés, Vichada, and Guainía traveled for hours to proudly represent their territories in this grand final.
“It’s a spectacular result: we broke participation records and achieved representation from almost the entire country, including distant departments such as Guainía, Vichada, La Guajira, Córdoba, and Casanare,” said Jorge Enrique Fiallo Leal, director of the UIS Mathematics Education Research Group. “This year, we also had perfect scores at the basic and intermediate levels, which is truly exceptional and demonstrates the quality of the participants.”
A breeding ground for the future of Colombian science
The UIS Math Olympics are divided into three levels: basic (3rd grade), intermediate (4th grade), and advanced (5th grade). The top five finishers in each category receive computers, tablets, smartwatches, wireless headphones, as well as gold, silver, and bronze medals for the top three and honorary diplomas for all finalists.
The best students in grades 4, 5, 6, and 7 will form the UIS delegation that will represent the University in the National Mathematics Olympiad, from which the young people who will make up the Colombian Delegation to the International Mathematics Olympiad in Mexico will emerge.
For Elder Jesús Villamizar Roa, professor at the UIS School of Mathematics, the event transcends competition: “Seeing the happiness of the children, the energy of their teachers, and the support of their parents, many of whom traveled more than 20 hours to get here, is indescribable. These efforts, full of empathy and hope, are an invaluable investment for society. Mathematics not only teaches problem solving, it also teaches thinking and making good decisions in life.”
During the closing ceremony, Villamizar received special recognition for his commitment to training young talent and his track record in strengthening the UIS Mathematics Olympiad program, which has been working with elementary schools for 14 years and secondary schools for 17 years.
A story that inspired everyone
Among the finalists, the story of Ángel David Sánchez Pérez, a 10-year-old boy from the municipality of Tame (Arauca), stole the hearts of the audience. His discipline, faith, and love for mathematics led him to stand out among the best in the country. “The sacrifice was worth it. My son is a noble, disciplined, studious child, and his father is his number one teacher,” said his mother, Norma Pérez, emotionally, thanking the University for opening the doors of knowledge to children in remote regions.
Ángel David himself shared his excitement after his victory: “I came to represent my school and my department. It was a difficult test, but I prepared a lot. I am very happy and grateful to my parents, my teachers, and the mayor of Tame for their support. Hopefully, I can move forward and represent Colombia someday.”
The final medal table in the different categories (basic, intermediate, and advanced) was made up of the best talents of the 2025 edition, who received recognition from the Organizing Committee for their effort, discipline, and academic excellence:
The 2025 UIS Primary School Math Olympics close with a hopeful message: education transforms lives. Each participating student represents a seed of talent that will blossom into new generations of scientists, engineers, and leaders committed to the country. The UIS thus reaffirms its commitment to quality education, educational equity, and the promotion of science, fostering a love of knowledge and pride in one day belonging to the Industrial University of Santander from childhood.
