The University of Waterloo’s team was ranked sixth in the 85th Annual William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition (the Putnam), the most prestigious undergraduate mathematics competition in North America.
Thousands of students from hundreds of universities across North America take the six-hour exam independently, but the top three scoring students from each university are automatically counted as its team.
The University of Waterloo team – consisting of Valentio Iverson, Milo Stammers, Mars Xiang, and Zuezhi Wang – received an Honorable Mention with an overall ranking of #6, the only team from Canada to place in the top ten (the third and fourth-place Waterloo students had the same scores and thus were both included on the team).
L-R: Zuezhi Wang, Milo Stammers, Valentio Iverson, Mars Xiang
“After dedicating years of my life to math, this accomplishment goes to show how far I’ve come over the past few years,” says Milo Stammers, an Honours Math student. “As I would look at the results from previous contests, I recognized many people from winning various contests I attended throughout high school. Now for my name to be alongside those of people who I have idolized for years feels unreal.”
The contest, which took place on December 7, 2024, was proctored on campuses across North America. “The Putnam problems are known for their difficulty and the creativity required to solve, with a median score of typically 0, 1, or 2 out of 120,” explains Jerry Wang, associate professor of Pure Mathematics. “Preparing for and participating in the contest helps students develop deep problem-solving skills, mathematical intuition, and the ability to think under pressure, all of which are important skills in academia and in industry.”
“The main emotion in a contest is excitement,” says Mars Xiang, a Computer Science student. “Whether it is when an unexpected idea suddenly appears or attempting to organize a messy proof in the remaining ten minutes, contests like Putnam are fast-paced and thrilling. Such a performance on Putnam of course feels amazing. I’m looking forward to further improving my mathematical skills and developing my knowledge.”
For Iverson, a fourth-year Computer Science student, the high placement was the culmination of years of work: this was his third time participating in the Putnam. “Having done it multiple times, I thought I have become more familiar with what to expect, but it’s still a nerve-wracking experience,” he says. “I’m definitely surprised but incredibly pleased with the result! Representing Waterloo in the Putnam has been incredible — one I never imagined would be on my undergrad journey checklist.”
Iverson and Stammers were both individually recognized with Honorable Mentions, and an additional five students were ranked in the top two hundred scorers: a number only exceeded by students from Harvard and MIT. “For universities, the Putnam serves as a benchmark for the quality of a university’s undergraduate mathematics program, the quality of the students that the university attracts, and the supportive environment that we provide for the students and faculties involved,” says Wang. “I hope we can keep attracting strong students!”
To learn more about the Putnam competition, visit the Mathematical Association of America’s website.