Overview. The contest promotes mathematics education in New Mexico by rewarding students, teachers, and their schools for mathematics excellence. Hundreds of  New Mexico students benefit from this program annually. The contest is designed at high-school level, and New Mexico students from grades 5 through 12 have been participating. It has two examination rounds, each testing mathematical potential and ingenuity in addition to formal knowledge. Round I is administered at testing centers throughout NM and online. The top finalists from Round I are invited to the UNM Campus in early February to compete in Round II, administered as an in-person written exam. Prior to the Round II examination, a prominent mathematician or statistician gives a presentation available to all. Recent invited guest speakers for Round II of the contest include Yuliya Gorb of the National Science Foundation, Stefan Steinerberger of the University of Washington, and Poh-Shen Loh of Carnegie Mellon University.

2025-2026 Team.The 2025-2026 contest is co-directed by Professor James Degnan and Associate Professor Stephen Lau of UNM Mathematics and Statistics. Professor Cristina Pereyra is volunteering as an advisor and co-director. Sean Choi will serve as a coach for student participants.

Round I of the contest will be administered at test centers throughout the State over an arranged 3-hour window during the period November 7th to 10th, 2025