Outstanding state math students offering free August online camp

This column appeared in a number of APG of East Central Mn newspapers during July, 2026, including the Aitken Daily Independent, County News Review,  Dakota County Tribune,  Faribault Daily News,  MilleLacs Messenger, Elk River Star News,  Monticello Times,  Morrison County Record,  SunThisWeek, Union Times, APG Statewide News

 

Outstanding state math students offering free August online camp

 

‘It’s a ton of fun.” That’s how Minnesota State High School Mathematics League Champion Sam Kretzschmar describes math in general, and a free online August math camp he and other outstanding students are offering. It’s a remarkable opportunity for middle and high school students. Last year, about 180 young people from more than 20 states participated.

Major universities pay close attention to these young people, even as TV stations and major newspapers ignore them. Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Yale, and the University of Minnesota are among the colleges and universities that Math Camp leaders will attend this fall.

For example, math camp instructor Sneha Kundu, a 2026 Wayzata High School graduate, is entering MIT this fall. She consistently ranked near the top in state mathematics tournaments. She’s teaching at the camp because “I want to spread my love of math and share expertise.” She pointed out that students join math teams not only because they enjoy math, but also because they meet people from other schools who share the same interest.

Angie Huang, another of the camp leaders and a high-scoring mathematics league participant, is headed to Harvard after graduating from East Ridge High School in Woodbury. She explained: “We are offering this camp to provide students free opportunities to discover their passion for advanced math, whether they have no exposure or some experience with competition math.”

Angie Huang

Photo courtesy of Ms. Huang’s family

Kretzschmar, a 2026 graduate of Spring Lake Park High School, like many of his peers, earned college credits via Postsecondary Enrollment Options and Advanced Placement courses. He’s planning to study math problems at the University of Minnesota. Sam teaches at the summer camp because he wants to help others “learn to love math.”

Jeff Zhou, an incoming Wayzata High School student, placed first or second at three of the State Mathematics League Tournaments. He’s one of the camp instructors, having received his first exposure to math camps in 6th grade. Zhou shares a view with others I interviewed: he’d like to see as much attention devoted to math teams as to sports teams. Makes sense to me.

Jeff Zhou (photo courtesy of Mr. Zhou’s family)

 

The camp will take place online from 1-4 p.m., Aug. 3-21 (Monday-Friday). Students are asked to register by Aug. 1. The young people leading the camp have organized it with the following considerations:

* Based on how well they perform on a diagnostic test, included with registration materials, participants will be grouped with other students of similar skill levels.

* It’s ok if participants can attend only some, but not all of the days.

* Classes will be recorded on a Google drive so participants can review.

More information, including sample math problems and registration material, is available here.

If you have questions after reading the material on that website, please send a note here:  mnyouthmathoutreach@gmail.com

Minnesota’s High School Mathematics League has members from throughout the state. Among the more than 150 high schools participating are district, charter and private schools from Apple Valley, Blaine, Bloomington, Burnsville, Cambridge, Chisago Lakes, Columbia Heights, Eagan, Eden Prairie, Edina, Elk River, Faribault, Farmington, Fergus Falls, Hopkins, International Falls, Lakeville, Maple Grove, Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Monticello, Mora, Mound Westonka, Owatonna, Rosemount, St. Louis Park, Spring Lake Park, St. Paul, Stillwater and Wayzata.

Huang pointed out that organizations, including Hudson River Trading, DRW, Art of Problem Solving, and Jane Street, are providing prizes and swag for outstanding participants.

She concluded that the camp is “perfect for students to find like-minded friends and role models. For high school volunteers, this camp is a great way to help younger students and gain leadership skills.”

Joe Nathan, PhD, was formerly a prize-winning Minnesota public school educator, K-16 and PTA president. Reactions welcome, joe@centerforschoolchange.org