TWO GRADE 12 students from the Regional Science High School in Isabela claimed the top two spots in the final round of the 2021 International Math Olympiad in Thailand.

Jay Lord Ugaddan, 17, was the gold medalist while Richdayne Earth Dwight Tumamao, 17, earned the silver medal.

Tumamao said they did not expect to win because there was no math training for international competitions in the Cagayan Valley region.

Fourteen countries participated in this year’s Thailand International Mathematical Olympiad, including China, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Ukraine, Iran, Taiwan, Vietnam, Myanmar, and Cambodia.

The competitors had to solve puzzles involving logical thinking, algebra and number theory.

The Olympiad’s organizers describe the event as “a platform to stimulate and foster young people’s interest in learning mathematics, to strengthen the ability of their creative thinking, to widen their international perspective, and to promote the development of primary and secondary education and exchange of educational cultures throughout countries or regions.”