Victoria Xia Tops All at 2011 "Math Prize for Girls" Contest

October 6, 2011

Victoria Xia, 15, won first place and the $25,000 prize at the third annual "Math Prize for Girls" contest, which was held at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology on September 17, 2011.

This year's contest, sponsored by the New York–based Advantage Testing Foundation, offered the largest monetary math prize in the world for young women. Competitors had to solve 20 challenging problems in 150 minutes.

Xia is a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia. A veteran of math competitions, she won a gold medal at the 2011 China Girls Mathematical Olympiad and earned an Honorable Mention at the 2010 "Math Prize for Girls" competition. Xia also participated in MAA's Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program earlier this year.

“If you look at our math team in school, the vast majority are guys,” said Xia. “It’s nice to have events like this to promote more women in the field.” 

Source: Advantage Testing Foundation; Math Prize for Girls Community Blog

Related Article:
"MIT to Host Math Competition for Girls" (September 13, 2011).