Two "heroes" who brought glory to the scholarly land of Nghe An.

(Baonghean)The Vietnamese team of outstanding students participating in the 54th International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO 2013), held in Colombia from July 18-28, 2013, consisted of 6 excellent students selected by the Ministry of Education and Training through several rounds of competition. Among them, Nghe An province had two representatives: Vo Anh Duc from Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted and Dinh Le Cong from Vinh University High School for the Gifted. As a result, Vo Anh Duc won a Gold Medal and Dinh Le Cong won a Silver Medal in Mathematics.

Leaders of Ha Tinh province congratulate Vo Anh Duc (right) and Dinh Le Cong (left).

A joyful welcome to our "hero"!

Upon hearing the news of Vo Anh Duc's return from Colombia, on the afternoon of August 1st, provincial leaders, the Department of Education and Training of Ha Tinh province, along with numerous teachers, friends, and relatives, gathered at Vinh Airport to welcome and present flowers to Vo Anh Duc, a student of Mathematics 1K20 at Ha Tinh Specialized High School, who had just won a Gold Medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad with a score of 34/42. The entire city of Ha Tinh was buzzing with news of a son bringing honor to their hometown. Amidst the joy of his parents, teachers, and friends following his resounding success, Duc has been surrounded by admiration for the past few days.

Vo Anh Duc, born on July 8, 1995, currently residing in Tran Phu Ward, Ha Tinh City, is the second son in his family. His father, Vo Ngoc Son, is currently the Director of the Ha Tinh Vehicle Inspection Company, and his mother, Nguyen Thi Hay, is from Quang Xuong District, Thanh Hoa Province. Duc's parents met while both were working in Dak Lak Province. His older brother is a former student of the specialized mathematics program at Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted and is currently a student at the Border Guard Academy.

Speaking about Duc, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hay, Duc's mother, said that Duc was born in Dak Lak, attended Vo Thi Sau Primary School in Buon Ma Thuot City until the end of the 3rd grade, then moved back to his hometown in Ha Tinh. In the 5th grade, Duc excelled, winning a Silver Medal in the National Children's Mathematics Competition. In 2010, he won first prize in the provincial mathematics competition and second prize in the national mathematics competition using a calculator (9th grade). In the 10th grade, Duc passed the entrance exam to the specialized mathematics class at Ha Tinh High School for the Gifted with a high score. During his time there, Duc won second prize in the national mathematics competition for 12th graders in the 2011-2012 school year while still in 11th grade. In the national excellent student selection exam in the 2012-2013 school year, Duc excellently won second prize in mathematics. With his impressive track record and exceptional thinking skills, Vo Anh Duc surpassed 42 other candidates in the selection process, making it into the six-person team participating in the 2013 International Mathematical Olympiad. Ms. Hay shared: Duc often studies very late into the night and self-studys foreign languages ​​to read materials in English. His strong foreign language skills are also an advantage that he can apply when participating in online math forums with international friends, allowing him to explore many interesting math problems.

To have time to support her son's studies, Ms. Hay quit her business. Throughout his exam preparation in Hanoi, she was always by Duc's side on every trip there. It was his mother's love, dedication, and encouragement that propelled Duc on his academic journey to achieve high results. Besides his passion for mathematics, Duc also loves social sciences, especially history. He has a very solid understanding of history and the dynasties of Vietnam throughout different periods. After returning from the exams, Duc has chosen to study information technology at Hanoi University of Science and Technology and plans to study abroad if the opportunity arises, Ms. Hay said.

Proud of Vinh University's specialized high school

Returning from this year's International Mathematical Olympiad, the Vietnamese team achieved an outstanding seventh-place finish overall with 3 Gold Medals and 3 Silver Medals. Among the three Silver Medal winners was Dinh Le Cong. Following this excellent achievement, on the morning of August 2nd, Vinh University held a ceremony to commend Dinh Le Cong and present him with a Certificate of Merit from the People's Committee of Nghe An province for his outstanding results in this major international intellectual competition.

Dinh Le Cong was born on February 4, 1995, into a family where both parents work in the education sector. His father, Dr. Dinh The Dinh, is currently the Head of the Department of Political Education at Vinh University, and his mother, Le Thi Kim Oanh, is a teacher at Bac Hong Secondary School in Hong Linh Town, Ha Tinh Province. His initial motivation for learning stemmed from his family's educational background. Le Thi Kim Oanh stated: "While attending primary school in my maternal grandparents' hometown, Cong showed a passion for mathematics with impressive scores and numerous high awards in district and provincial student competitions. In secondary school, studying at the same school where his mother works, Cong had the opportunity to further develop his passion and achieved first prize in the Ha Tinh Provincial Mathematics competition in 9th grade."

Upon entering high school, Cong decided to take the entrance exam and was admitted to Vinh University's Specialized High School. The intelligent and dynamic student was trusted and elected class president of the specialized mathematics class for three consecutive years, along with achieving excellent academic results. His mother, Le Thi Kim Oanh, said: "For Cong, mathematics must stem from genuine passion and a very high level of self-study. Besides studying at school, Cong also allocates time to independently research through books and the internet..." Le Cong shared: "Everyone says that students specializing in mathematics are usually dry and unmotivated, but for me, that concept doesn't exist at all. It's not about sitting for hours 'grinding' to be considered quality; true quality is demonstrated by how effectively the time you invest is utilized."

Besides the intense hours spent studying mathematics, Cong enthusiastically participates in sports activities organized by the school and his class. He also has a talent for hosting events, possessing a charming voice and demeanor. Even more remarkably, before winning the Silver Medal at the 2013 International Mathematical Olympiad, Cong had already won first prize in mathematics at the 2012-2013 National Excellent Student Competition. With a bright future ahead, it is hoped that with his passion and talent, Dinh Le Cong will continue to achieve high academic results and contribute to the country, bringing honor to his homeland.

Minh Thu - Thanh Chau