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April 29, 2010
Junior Kevin Luo took the American Invitational Mathematics Examination (AIME), March 16, at the American Mathematics Competition 12 (AMC 12). Kevin has qualified for the AIME every year since his freshman year. However, he did not qualify for the next round, United States of America Mathematical Olympiad (USAMO), which identifies the most talented mathematics student in the nation. The AIME is a three-hour long test that would qualify AMC finalists to participate in the United States of America Math Olympiad (USAMO). USAMO is a six-question, nine-hour essay and proof examination.
“Even as a very young kid, I was interested in math and solving problems,” Luo said.
In second grade, he asked his parents to enroll in Kumon Math program, a program which helps students excel in their interest. He worked on the Kumon worksheets everyday. He participated in the North American Kumon Math Competition in fourth grade and received first place. He also participated in many other Kumon challenges and won prizes.
Kevin continued his interest in math in junior high by taking an extra Algebra I course online which allowed him to skip a math class later in his school years. He also received a national award from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth for his high score in the SAT-I Math section as a seventh grader.
In high school, he participates in the AMC 10 and AMC 12 examinations every year, and qualifies for the AIME.
“We appreciate WHS Math club and Ms. Browne for giving Kevin and other students the opportunity to represent Washington High School and to participate in math competition events of the Bay Area,” Kevin’s mother Hong Zhou said.
Kevin also has a passion for helping other students in math. He has been participating in the math tutoring after school since 2008. This summer, he plans to take a class called “Logic, Cryptography, and Number Theory” in the California State Summer School for Mathematics and Science (COSMOS).
“We are happy to see his growth and are very proud of his achievements” Zhou said.
