SMHS Chinese exchange student Zihao Geng, accompanied by precalculus teacher Kathy McCormack, is one of 28 students from SMHS to compete in the recent University of Tennessee Pro2Serve Math Contest in Knoxville. He placed 15th out of 682 Tennessee high school students in the first round.
Contributed photoChinese exchange student Zihao Geng is one of 28 calculus and precalculus students from SMHS to be selected to participate in the recent University of Tennessee Pro2Serve Math Contest for Tennessee high school students.
He said math contests in China have formats similar to the Pro2Serve competition, which was his first in the United States and required more effort in solving problems due to the language barrier.
“The top calculus and precalculus students from all across the state are invited to compete, so this was a really great achievement just to make it [to the competition],” said Kathy McCormack, calculus and precalculus instructor at SMHS.
She said each of her calculus students accompanied her to the contest, in addition to her precalculus students such as Zihao with the highest class averages.
“My math teacher gave me this chance,” Zihao said of McCormack. “I was lucky to be chosen by her.”
All 682 contest participants took the FERMAT I, and students with the top 50 scores moved on to round two of the competition. Taking 15th place with his FERMAT I score, Zihao qualified to take the FERMAT II, a test requiring more creativity in problem-solving.
McCormack said she has not yet received the results of the FERMAT II, as the group of students from SMHS was forced to leave the competition early due to weather conditions. Top scorers are eligible to win one of 10 four-year scholarships to UTK, or prizes including certificates, T-shirts and engraved plaques.
“Math gives me confidence – you find the problem and solve it,” said Zihao, a junior who said he also enjoys studying history but is interested in almost every subject.
An only child from Beijing, Zihao said he is now happy to be like one of James and Dianne Bardoner’s 10 children, ages 2 through 29, seven of which are currently living at home.
“There are so many people you won’t be alone,” he said. “I really want to thank my host family. I really appreciate them.”
He said he likes the scenic views and plentiful wildlife he sees on Signal Mountain, and that he loves to watch SMHS sports games, especially the Eagles football team. He plans to get on the field himself this spring when soccer season begins.