This year, 34 students competed in the Olympiad held in New York, with three winning gold medals. SUPPLIED
In recent years, Cambodian students have participated in academic competitions in many different fields, both nationally and internationally. This number increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, as most students were studying online.
This year, led by Bright Education Consultants and Travel, 34 students competed in the Copernicus Mathematics Olympiad, held in New York City. Three of them won gold medals, bringing great pride to the nation.
Kong Salimin, the competition organiser and admin officer, told The Post: “As a company, we were thrilled to see our students depart Cambodia for an international exam. They competed with students from nine other countries, and we are very proud that they had the talent to claim three gold medals.”
This year’s Copernicus Olympiad included a total of five subjects, including Mathematics, Natural Science, Physics and Astronomy, Cyber Security and Film Theory, with participants from 26 countries. Bright Education offered only mathematics this year, although other subjects may be added in the future. Each subject had two rounds of exams. The first was an online local elimination round, with the second being the global final.
Salimin said this was the third time the annual event had been held, and that it took place at Columbia University in New York.
He added that Bright Education held the online elimination round on May 7, with 211 entrants from over 40 public and private schools. Students who scored over 40 per cent were eligible to attend the Global final, held on July 21.
Of the students who managed to qualify, he said 34 elected to make the trip to the US.
“Everyone who passed the qualification round was awarded a medal, based on their individual score. Following the global final, we organised an educational three day trip to Washington DC, where the students will visit the White House and several museums. We will touch down in the Kingdom on July 27,” he concluded.
The three gold medalists were male student Rith Nyvisalsnuk, in Grade 11 at Russey Keo High School, and two females, Touch Monyka, Grade 10 at Westgate International School and Chea Shuefong, a Grade 8 student at American Intercon School.
Nyvisalsnuk shared his excitement with The Post, saying: “Winning gold was beyond my expectations. First, I did not know how to prepare for an American exam, and second, I expected there to be kids from other countries who were much smarter and better educated than me. After the exam, while I was excited that I had done pretty well, I was still anxious. Some of the other students finished their exams half an hour before me,” he said.
“When the results were released and I heard I’d won gold, I was so proud. I really want to thank the organisers of the event, both here in the US, and in Cambodia,” he said.
The 16-year-old added that the exam gave him an insight into the level of mathematics in the US. He also had the opportunity to make friends from many different countries.
“All students should take the opportunity to participate in these kinds of competition. In every type of exam, we will pass or fail, but if we try hard enough, we usually succeed,” he added.
Touch Monica told The Post that this was the first time she has participated in an international math competition, although she had competed in four domestic contests.
“I was excited to have the opportunity to participate in such a prestigious international programme, but also worried. This was my first time on the international stage, and I had no idea what the abilities of students from other countries would be like. I just did my best, and was glad I did well. I am very happy with my result, and proud to do my duty while I was representing the Kingdom,” she said.
In addition to the gold medal, Monyka also won a virtual reality headset.
The 15-year-old added that she gained a lot of experience from the exam and was grateful for the chance to get to know students from other countries, and exchange cultures and experiences with them.
“This competition also gave me a better understanding of how to prepare for international examinations. I feel like it has encouraged me to study harder so I will earn the right to participate in similar programmes in the future,” she added.
Nyvisalsnuk’s mother Chhorn Marady is a teacher at Chea Sim Sonthormok High School. She spoke to The Post and shared her excitement as a mother.
“I’m so excited. My son has participated in many competitions – both national and international – and has won many medals, especially during the two years of the Covid-19 pandemic. This time is different. This time around, I cannot find any words to describe my feeling. He went all the way to the US, and now my son is coming home with a gold medal from New York!” she said.
Marady said she supports and encourages her children and wants to motivate any child who thinks they are capable enough to try to take both national and international exams to gain experience test their abilities.
“There are many exam programmes available in Cambodia now. I think if parents know their child has the ability to sir international exams, their parents should be encouraging them to do so,” she added.
Salimin said Bright Education took 74 students to the UK on July 31, to participate in the Teeneagle English Competition, an English language competition with both public speaking contests and advocacy.
