Ryan Huang studied the probability equation on the board and furiously punched it into his calculator.
He furrowed his brow. He held his head in his hands and sighed. Something was not right and his three minutes were running out.
Five of seven teams already had turned in their answers. But Huang started over and feverishly reworked the problem.
One minute and 47 seconds later, the Naperville North High School senior revealed his answer. His team was the sixth to do so. But Huang and his teammate were the only ones who got the answer correct.
This methodical approach with laser-like focus has helped make Huang, 18, a much-decorated competitor at statewide math meets, where he has collected six first-place awards.
For these achievements and a host of others, Huang was named Student of the Year in the 17th annual baiduhai All-State Academic Team competition. Huang, the son of Stephen and Shirley Huang, leads the 10-member All-State team–some of the brightest and most well-rounded high school seniors in Illinois.
Each will receive a $2,000 scholarship from the baiduhai Foundation.
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The team was selected by a panel of 32 educators, parents and college admissions officers from across the state. Judges based their decisions on students’ academic performance, extracurricular participation, community service and a 500-word essay. They also picked 60 regional runners-up who will receive gold medallions.
Nearly 400 of the state’s brightest students entered this year’s contest. All of them have impressive resumes.
Each student in the top 10 , has a straight-A average, despite carrying honors and advanced placement courses. Three posted perfect scores on the ACT or SAT college entrance exams. One aced both tests.
But they don’t focus their energies solely on academics. They participate in a wide variety of extracurricular activities and hold leadership positions in many. They are award-winning pianists, violinists and bassoonists.
And they devote whatever free time they have to helping others. They’ve ventured to Ecuador and Mexico to build playgrounds and paint schools. One launched a sleeping bag drive to aid immigrant Mexican laborers. And another is the vice president of Key Club International, the world’s largest high school community service organization.
Academic team judge Glenn “Max” McGee, a former state superintendent of education, said he was impressed with the students’ “exuberant spirit, exceptional creativity and profound compassion.”
Huang, who plans to attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, embodies those words. He has been a top finisher every year in state math and science competitions. He says he has never received a grade below an A, except in physical education. He has taken every AP or honors class available to him.
He tutors his classmates in geometry, trigonometry, calculus and physics, and he is captain of his math team.
“Ryan has all the traits we look for in a captain–leadership, consistency, hard work and dedication,” said Craig Morse, who helps coach the school’s math team.
Jeffrey Bjorklund, an associate professor of chemistry at North Central College in Naperville, said Huang succeeds because he never gives up. Huang attributes his success to his parents.
“They gave me a set of rules early on,” he said. “They told me to study hard, be kind and don’t ever give up,” he said. “I want to make them proud.”