Round 1 of UNM-PNM math contest draws more than 400 participants

A total of 449 students from 35 schools across New Mexico took part in the first round of the 2025-2026 UNM-PNM Statewide High School Mathematics Contest, held recently at 17 testing sites across the state.

Almost 97% of the students tested in person at locations in Albuquerque, Deming, Las Cruces, Lordsburg, Los Alamos, Rio Rancho, Santa Fe and Zuni. Others tested online.

Nearly 200 students from grades 5-12 representing 30 schools have been invited to compete in the second round on Feb. 14, 2026, at The University of New Mexico. A public lecture by University of Hawaii at Manoa mathematician Elizabeth Gross, an associate professor whose research explores the geometric and algebraic structure of statistical models in biology, will precede the exam at 10 a.m. Gross's work lies at the intersection of applied algebraic geometry, algebraic statistics, and algebraic biology, with particular focus on applications in evolutionary biology, ecology, and systems biology.

"I thank the organizers, Stephen, James and Cristina for making this happen, with a large investment of their energy and time," said Mathematics and Statistics Department Chair, Professor Monika Nitsche. "The reach across the state and across schools, and the increase of in-person participation since Covid is significant."

T.J. Middleton, math department leader at Bosque School and a UNM alumnus, said the contest stands out for rewarding "thinking and perseverance rather than memorization, shortcuts, and tricks."

The UNM-PNM contest began in 1966 and has been run almost every year by UNM's Department of Mathematics and Statistics. PNM has co-sponsored the event since 1997, helping fund the annual guest lecture, awards banquet, and prizes for students and teachers.

The competition traditionally serves 700 to 1,200 students in strong participation years, and organizers say they are working to rebuild numbers following the pandemic. It features two rounds of exams emphasizing creativity and mathematical reasoning. Recent guest speakers have included Yuliya Gorb of the National Science Foundation, Stefan Steinerberger of the University of Washington, and Poh-Shen Loh of Carnegie Mellon University.

The 2025-2026 contest team includes co-directors James Degnan and Stephen Lau, advisor and co-director Cristina Pereyra, and student coach Sean Choi. Additional support comes from Mu Alpha Theta and a discount from the American Mathematical Society.

Organizers say donations to support the contest are welcome.