Several RCDS Middle and Upper School students competed in international mathematical modeling contests in November 2024 and March 2025, with impressive results. 

2024 HiMCM and MidMCM Results

Three Upper School teams and one Middle School team competed in their respective divisions of the Consortium for Mathematics and its Applications (COMAP)’s modeling contests in November 2024. The High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM) and Middle Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MidMCM) are international contests designed to provide high school and middle school students with the opportunity to work as team members to engage and improve their modeling, problem solving, and writing skills.

A total of 1,055 teams representing 474 schools from 20 countries/regions competed in the 2024 HiMCM. Two modeling problems were offered (HiMCM Problem A and HiMCM Problem B), and each team selected one of the open-ended problems. Demonstrating their ability to analyze data, structure models, and present logical conclusions, like real-world researchers and analysts, the high school teams submitted detailed solutions that emphasized their creativity, teamwork, and practical applications of mathematics. These problems were designed to encourage students to think beyond equations and explore how math can drive practical solutions. One RCDS Upper School team tackled Problem A, while two RCDS Upper School teams addressed Problem B. 

HiMCM Problem A – To Play or not to Play: Modeling Future Olympic Games
Catherine Liu ’28, Alexandra Lund ’28, and Natalie Zhu ’28 (Team US-15649) with advisor Upper School Math Teacher Charles Worrall
Meritorious Designation (Top 18% of participants)

HiMCM Problem B – Examining the Environmental Impact of High-Powered Computing
Aarush Dey ’27, Felix Mao ’27, Felipe Quintero Ochoa ’27, and George Zhan ’27 (Team US-15239) with advisor Upper School Math Teacher Seb Mineo
Meritorious Designation (Top 19% of participants)

Chaaranath Badrinath ‘26, Arjun Arora ‘26, Arav Ramaswamy ‘26, and Milin Torgalkar ‘26 (Team US-15240) with advisor Upper School Math Teacher Seb Mineo
Successful Participant Designation

At the middle school level, a total of 76 teams from 44 schools across three countries participated in the 2024 MidMCM. In their problem, the middle schoolers had to analyze a musical performer’s past tours to develop a model for planning their next tour. 

MidMCM Problem C – The Modeling Musical Tour
Mira B. ’29, Jeremy C. ’29, Noah G. ’29, and Michelle Z. ’29 (Team US-15366) with advisor Middle School Math Department Chair Susan Peck
Finalist Designation (Top 10% of participants, named one of five Finalist teams, and invited to compete in 2025 International Mathematical Modeling Challenge USA Regional Contest)

2025 International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM²C)

Due to their exceptional performance in the 2024 MidMCM, the Middle School team of eighth graders was automatically invited to compete in the USA regional contest of the 2025 International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM²C). Two of the Upper School teams who received Meritorious designations in the 2024 HiMCM also qualified to participate in the USA regional contest. 

The 11th annual modeling challenge was open for team submissions from February through April 2025. The competition was designed to promote the teaching of mathematical modeling and applications at all educational levels for all students. Through the contest, teams were able to experience the power of mathematics to help them better understand, analyze, and solve real world problems outside of mathematics itself, and to do so in realistic contexts. The USA regional contest also served to determine which two teams would represent the country in the international round of the 2025 IM²C. 

From the 2024 HiMCM and 2024 MidMCM, a total of 246 teams from the United States competed in the USA regional contest. All high school and middle school teams were tasked with developing a model to produce a Global Sports League schedule. As part of this regional competition, the teams had to select a sport, develop a model that produced a fair and effective schedule for the Global Sports League, and test how well such a scheduling model adapted to changes in the league. Teams had only five consecutive days to work on this problem.

• Aarush Dey ’27, Felix Mao ’27, Felipe Quintero Ochoa ’27, and George Zhan ’27 (Team US-15239) with advisor Upper School Math Teacher Seb Mineo
  Regional Outstanding Designation
• Catherine Liu ’28, Alexandra Lund ’28, and Natalie Zhu ’28 (Team US-15649) with advisor Upper School Math Teacher Charles Worrall
  Successful Participant Designation
• Mira B. ’29, Jeremy C. ’29, Noah G. ’29, and Michelle Z. ’29 (Team US-15366) with advisor Middle School Math Department Chair Susan Peck
  Successful Participant Designation

With their Regional Outstanding Designation in the USA regional contest of the 2025 IM²C, the Upper School team of Aarush Dey ’27, Felix Mao ’27, Felipe Quintero Ochoa ’27, and George Zhan ’27 were selected as one of two teams moving on to represent the United States in the international round of competition against Australia, Canada, and China. Each countries’ two finalist papers will be judged by an international expert panel, and the global winners will be announced in June. 

Congratulations, Wildcats!

*Students who are in the RCDS Middle School at the time of publication are listed with their first names and last initials.