11 November 2009
MEDIA RELEASE
Adelaide students head to Canberra to receive Medals
for outstanding performance
Three Adelaide students are among the 26 Australian medallists in the 32nd annual
Australian Mathematics Competition (AMC) who will be presented with awards by
Professor Kurt Lambeck, President, Australian Academy of Science at a special ceremony
in Canberra on Friday, 13 November 2009 at the Shine Dome at 11am.
Several hundred thousand entrants from schools across 42 countries entered this year’s
competition and only 71 medals have been awarded globally to approximately the top 0.01% of
the students who sat the AMC.
The AMC is the major mathematics school enrichment event in the South Pacific region. In each
division of the competition, a limited number of medals are awarded for performances that are
outstanding both within a state or country and overall in the Competition.
The Adelaide medallists are:
HENRY
BUI
Year 8
BLACKFRIARS PRIORY SCHOOL
PROSPECT
YOON-SEOK
JANG
10
PRINCE ALFRED COLLEGE
KENT TOWN
YANNING
XU
9
ST PETER'S COLLEGE
HACKNEY
Professor PeterTaylor, Executive Director of the not-for-profit Australia Mathematics Trust that
runs the AMC, said, “The AMC aims to encourage students of all standards in their study of
mathematics. It sets out to demonstrate how mathematics can be used in the world around
them via problem solving using the skills students learn in the classroom. The AMC has also
been useful in identifying talented students such as these and the results are used for inviting
students into more advanced mathematical enrichment programs.”
“In fact, Australia’s leading Mathematicians under the age of 40 were discovered and
developed as a result of their participation in the AMC”, he concluded.
The University of Canberra and the Canberra Mathematical Association in Australia are
supporting sponsors of the AMC.
For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Professor Peter Taylor, Executive Director, Australian Mathematics Trust, 0412 258 699
Suzanne Fraser, Manager, Australian Mathematics Trust, 0437 670 610
Anna Nakos, State Director for South Australia, AMC, 0408 571 775
(Student biogs follow)
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PROFILES OF THE 2009 AMC MEDALLISTS IN ADELAIDE
Henry Bui
School:
Blackfriars Priory School
Year:
8
Henry has previously received a MASA Award and has an Academic
Scholarship at Blackfriars. He enjoys bike riding, playing tennis, Monopoly
and playing piano (including heavy metal, R&B and rock music). Henry hopes
to become a doctor specialising in allergies or cancer.
Yoon-Seok Jang
School:
Prince Alfred College
Year:
10
Yoon-Seok was also a prize winner in the 2007 and 2008 Australian
Mathematics Competitions. He was awarded 2nd place in the 2009 South
Australian Schools Mathematics Competiton. Yoon-Seok enjoys playing the
piano, listening to music, playing tennis and watching movies. He intends to
become a dentist.
Yanning Xu
School:
St Peter’s College
Year:
9
Yanning was also awarded an AMC Medal in 2008. He enjoys tennis and
math. He hopes to have a career in math and economics.
NEWS 
