UNT Live
View the latest UNT Twitter posts.
Quick links
Common UNT web resources for faculty and staff.
Eleven students who are attending the Texas Academy of Mathematics and Science were named either semifinalists or regional finalists in the 2012 Siemens Competition in Math, Science & Technology. The academy, or TAMS, has more students honored in the competition than any other Texas school, and is one of the top schools in the nation with honored students.
The Siemens Competition was established in 1999 and recognizes high school students’ achievements in mathematics, science and technology research. It is one of the most prestigious high school-level competitions in the nation, providing winners with college scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $100,000. Students may enter the competition as part of a team, or individually.
George Qi of Austin and Robert Tung of Plano, both second-year TAMS students, were among 11 students from Texas schools named regional finalists. The two worked with a student from Austin’s Westwood High School on “A Novel Approach for Estimating Survival Functions for Interval Censored Data with STD Behavioral Diary Information.” Their research mentor was Qiang Zhao, associate professor of mathematics at Texas State University.
Qi and Tung presented the research at the Region Two competition held at the University of Texas at Austin, one of six regional events across the U.S. that determine national finalists in the Siemens Competition. Regional finalists are each guaranteed a $1,000 scholarship.
Two TAMS students have won the $100,000 top national prize. In 2008, Wen Chyan won for his individual research, and in 2002, Charles Hallford won as part of a team. TAMS students were also named national finalists in 2009 and 2011.
Nine other TAMS students were semifinalists in this year’s competition. They are:
TAMS is a two-year residential program at UNT that allows exceptionally talented students to complete their freshman and sophomore years of college while receiving the equivalent of high school diplomas. Students enroll in the academy following their sophomore year of high school, live in a UNT residence hall and attend UNT classes with college students. After two years, they enroll at UNT or another university to finish their bachelor’s degrees.
Posted on: Tue 13 November 2012
Tell us how you or your area supports UNT’s Four Bold Goals. Want to share a best practice? Launched a student support service? Developed an efficient process? Learn what others are doing or share your ideas.