VUK CONQUERED AMERICA: A student of the Mathematical High School won a gold medal at the Olympiad in the USA!

A student of the Mathematical High School in Belgrade, Vuk Nikolov (III-c), won a gold medal in mathematics and the title of absolute winner in his age category (third and fourth grade of high school) at the international competition Olympiad USA, held from February 5 to 9 in Miami (United States of America).

Such results are not only a personal success of one student – they are also a reminder that education in Serbia is still oriented toward the highest standards.

Although medals are the easiest to see, behind them there are almost always years of work, precise discipline, and a special kind of mental endurance. Mathematics competitions involve more than a “correct answer”: they test ways of thinking, the ability to break down a problem, and the patience to reach a solution through logic rather than shortcuts.

In that sense, Vuk Nikolov’s gold medal in Miami gains additional weight: it shows continuity, but also that the generations to come have the strength to keep pace with competition from the most developed educational systems.

A school born from the idea of developing mathematical talents

The idea of founding the Mathematical High School matured in the 1960s, at a moment when the need was recognized in Serbia to give mathematics a greater role and to systematically support the development of young talents.

The key bearer of this idea was Professor Dr. Vojin Dajović, who in 1962 prepared a study on the importance of mathematics and the improvement of teaching, and then, after returning from a study stay in Moscow (1963/64), proposed the establishment of a specialized school modeled after systems for working with talented students.

What the Mathematical High School is known for

The City Assembly of Belgrade made the decision to establish the Mathematical High School on May 23, 1966, and the school formed its first generations with a special program and a selection of teachers. From the very beginning, it was profiled according to a model that remains recognizable to this day: an entrance exam, special curricula and programs, small classes, work with teachers who can follow a high pace and – perhaps most importantly – the development of students who do not study “for grades,” but out of curiosity and inner motivation.

In addition to advanced mathematics, the program very early included areas such as logic, programming, and applications of mathematics, which at the time represented a serious step forward in education.

A tradition of Olympians and international medals

Although competitions were never the school’s only goal, the Mathematical High School has for decades been one of the most recognizable symbols of Serbia’s success at international Olympiads. As early as 1968, students of the school participated in the International Mathematical Olympiad in Moscow, while the first gold medals arrived in 1974.

In the decades that followed, students of the Mathematical High School won medals not only in mathematics, but also in physics, computer science, astronomy, and other disciplines, building the reputation of a school that simultaneously preserves tradition and constantly adapts to modern challenges.

The new principal and the contemporary period of the school’s work

The Mathematical High School is today led by Mirjana Katić, a professor of mathematics, under whose leadership the school continues to develop and improve its work as an institution of special national importance. In the contemporary period, special attention is paid to preserving high teaching standards, supporting gifted students, and nurturing a tradition that has lasted for decades, as well as adapting to modern educational challenges. In that spirit, the Mathematical High School ceremonially marked its 55th anniversary with a grand academy, at which students, professors, and former pupils with notable results at international Olympiads were presented, confirming the continuity of excellence and the school’s reputation at home and abroad.

Vuk Nikolov’s success in the USA

Vuk Nikolov’s success in the United States fits into that story: as a reminder that knowledge, work, and perseverance are still a universal language. And that, even in a time of fast information and short attention spans, there is something that demands seriousness – and rewards it.

Congratulations to Vuk Nikolov on an outstanding result and to the Mathematical High School on continuing a tradition that has lasted for almost six decades.