Stevens Math Olympiad 2025 Welcomes Hundreds of Young Problem Solvers to Campus
More than 450 students from across New Jersey gathered on the Stevens Institute of Technology campus in Hoboken, New Jersey, on Saturday, May 17, for the 2025 Stevens Mathematical Olympiad — an annual celebration of mathematical creativity, curiosity and challenge hosted by the Department of Mathematical Sciences.
"The openness of the Olympiad to all children wishing to examine themselves in math is its uniqueness," said Pavel Dubovski, teaching professor in the department and the event’s lead organizer.
Held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the Olympiad invited students in grades 3 through 12 to solve a curated set of 15 problems—five easy, five medium and five difficult—designed to test mathematical intuition, logic and creativity. "The topics include different branches of mathematics related to the grade level," Dubovski explained.
The Olympiad is designed not as a traditional test, but as an opportunity to experience the joy of problem-solving.
"Typical Olympiad problems require one principal idea to be solved," Dubovski said. "The beauty of the solutions is an important feature for most problems. Solving just a few problems is a success for students, and they shouldn’t be upset to earn less than they usually have in their regular classrooms."
The event’s goals are to stimulate enthusiasm and a love for mathematics, introduce important mathematical concepts and strengthen students’ intuition and creativity. Dubovski affirmed that these goals were met:
"The Olympiad allows the children and their parents to evaluate their math knowledge and math creativity. When students get an instant insight and solve problems, they experience great happiness and sometimes even ecstasy."
The event left a lasting impression on participants and their families. A large Olympiad banner provided a popular photo backdrop, helping families commemorate the day.
"These memories are an additional outcome for our participants who, as we hope, become the friends of Stevens," Dubovski added.
Looking ahead, the 2026 Olympiad will continue to evolve. "Stevens students, mostly from the Stevens Math Club, will co-author some problems," Dubovski said. His advice for future participants? "Reading math Olympiad problem books and discussing the problems with peers is the best preparation."
The Stevens Mathematical Olympiad remains a signature outreach event for the Department of Mathematical Sciences, offering a welcoming and intellectually rich environment for young learners to explore the beauty of mathematics.
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