News Release

Putnam Competition names top in college mathematics

2016 top teams and Putnam Fellows

Grant and Award Announcement

Mathematical Association of America

WASHINGTON, DC - The results of the William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition, the most prestigious university-level mathematics exam, were announced today. The 77th annual Putnam Competition, administered by the Mathematical Association of America, recognized Carnegie Mellon University as the top team and five undergraduate students were named Putnam Fellows for their high scores on the challenging six-hour mathematics exam.

"The Mathematical Association of America is proud to honor every student who participated in the Putnam Competition and especially the Putnam Fellows and top scoring teams," said Michael Pearson, the executive director of the The Mathematical Association of America. "You are the future of mathematics and we look forward to your continued success."

More than 4,100 students, from 568 institutions, participated in this highly competitive exam on December 3, 2016. The highest score on the six-hour exam was 114 out of a possible 120 points. Prizes are awarded to the participants with the highest scores and to the departments of mathematics of the five institutions whose teams obtain the highest rankings.

Top 5 Putnam Teams: 2016

    1. Carnegie Mellon University
    2. Princeton University
    3. Harvard University
    4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    5. Stanford University

2016 Individual Putnam Fellows, listed in alphabetical order:

    -Joshua D. Brakensiek, Carnegie Mellon University
    -Dong Ryul Kim, Harvard University
    -Thomas E. Swayze, Carnegie Mellon University
    -Samuel Zbarsky, Carnegie Mellon University
    -Yunkun Zhou, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Elizabeth Lowell Putnam Prize:

    -Simona Diaconu, Princeton University

For more information about participating in the Putnam Competition, click here and follow the Mathematical Association of America on Twitter @maanow.

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