Thousands of Jamaica’s brightest young minds gathered to test their wits at the UWI Mona campus for the 2025 Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad on April 10.
A brainchild of the University of the West Indies’ Department of Mathematics, the annual awards ceremony celebrated the culmination of an intense competition.
For the junior level, this year’s Olympiad drew participation of over 2,500 students from 108 primary and preparatory schools across the island.
In a testament to the high level of competition, 10-year-old William Lei from the American International School of Kingston (AISK), age 10, secured the trophy for the best solution paper in the grade 9-11 category, while 12-year-old Andre Thru from Cornwall College earned the trophy for the best solutions paper in the 7-8 category.
For participants like Lei, the challenging environment was a key part of its appeal.
“I know there were so many brilliant peers there competing, and I knew it was going to be tough, but that’s what made it so great,” said William Lei, describing the competition as amazing.
His sentiment highlights the presence of a significant, yet often ‘invisible’ minority of bright young mathematicians across Jamaica, brought together by the challenging and rewarding experience of the Olympiad.
Reflecting on his experience, Thru found the competition to be “very organised and the test paper challenging but definitely doable with practice and knowledge of mathematics,” adding that it was a “well-orchestrated competition that can really promote mathematics.”
Seasoning the celebration of talent were the achievements of the Thaxter brothers from Wolmer’s High School for Boys. Joshua Thaxter, who demonstrated his mathematical aptitude by securing fifth place at the Grade 7 level, a similar feat matched by his brother Mattheau, who achieved seventh place in the Grade 8 category.
The achievements of 109 of these students, celebrated across various levels and categories, underscore a key point: mathematical excellence is not limited to a select few institutions. The recognition of top-performing junior-level schools like Creative Kids Learning Academy, Kensington Primary School, and Emmanuel Christian Academy reveals the presence of often-untapped mathematical talent.
The senior category also witnessed significant engagement, with 508 students from 29 high schools participating. From this competitive group, 48 students distinguished themselves, earning certificates and trophies for their mathematical prowess. The top three high schools were Campion College, Hillel Academy, and Herbert Morrison Technical High School.
Parliamentary speaker and MP Juliet Holness, in her keynote address, attributed her successful career as a chartered accountant to her childhood involvement with numbers, specifically in calculating her family’s business profits.
Her message to the young mathematicians centred on the values of honesty and hard work.
“I believe in an honest bread which is earned honestly and working hard – a very big and important part of life and of who I wanted to be,” she asserted.
She emphasised that her early experiences in the family business instilled in her the crucial need for critical thinking and integrity. The Jamaican Mathematical Olympiad, she noted, plays a vital role in nurturing mathematical talent, encouraging problem-solving skills, and cultivating a passion for mathematics in students across all age groups.
The Olympiad’s success is a collaborative effort, supported by UWI, Mona, Ministry of Education and the generous sponsorship of New Fortress Energy, CIBC Caribbean, Caribbean Actuarial Association, and JPS Foundation.
Published on 09 Jul, 2025