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Last month, the Russian School of Mathematics (RSM) celebrated more than 1,500 student award winners from Massachusetts and Nashua, New Hampshire, as part of its Annual Award Ceremony, which brought together more than 6,000 students, parents, and teachers. The event recognized achievement in mathematics, academic growth, and participation in national and international competitions.
Local honorees included:
1) Sagar, Swarn (Franklin, Grade 4, going into 5th; IMC: Bronze Medal )
2) Griffith, Daniel (Franklin, Grade 5, going into 6th; IMC: Bronze Medal, Math Kangaroo: 8th place national winner)
3) Chinnappan, Aathini MS (Franklin, Grade 2, going into 3rd; IMC: Bronze Medal
4) Sandaam Gajendran, Gokul (Franklin, Grade 5, going into 6th; IMC: Bronze Medal)
5) Hongirad, Dolan (Franklin, Grade 6; IMC: Silver Medal, AMC 8: Top 25%)
6) Iyer, Romir (Franklin, Grade 8; AMC 10B: T25, AMC 8: Certificate of Distinction, IMC: Bronze Medal)
7) Melnikov, Mikhail (Franklin, Grade 8; AMC 8: Top 25%)
8) Patel, Aarnav (Medway, Grade 7; AMC 8: Top 25%)
9) Shah, Aagam (Franklin, Grade 8; AMC 8: Certificate of Distinction, IMC: Silver Medal, Math Kangaroo: 17th place national winner )
10) Mortazavi, Arad (Franklin, Grade 2, going into 3rd; IMC: Silver Medal), and,
11) Mortazavi, Arvand (Franklin, Grade 2, going into 3rd; IMC: Silver Medal)
The ceremony highlighted not only academic excellence but also the school's broader educational mission of developing reasoning, communication, and problem-solving skills from an early age.
"Mathematics is not only about finding answers, but about learning how to think, how to explain ideas clearly, question assumptions, and approach unfamiliar problems with confidence," said Inessa Rifkin, co-founder of the Russian School of Mathematics.
RSM believes that mathematics provides students with a strong foundation for analytical thinking and intellectual curiosity. Through solving challenging problems, students learn to think independently, communicate their ideas clearly, and approach unfamiliar situations with confidence.
Each year, RSM's Annual Award Ceremony recognizes students across multiple program levels for academic achievement, effort, and growth. In addition to its core curriculum, RSM offers a competition track for students interested in advanced mathematical topics and participation in challenging national and international competitions.
Through its curriculum, RSM helps students develop logical reasoning, critical thinking, communication skills, and confidence in solving non-routine problems by encouraging students to justify their thinking, evaluate multiple approaches, and explain their solutions verbally from an early age.
"There is tremendous value in developing these skills early. At RSM, we focus on building mathematical character by helping students develop confidence in facing the unknown, learn how to approach and persevere through complex, multi-step, non-routine problems, and communicate their reasoning with clarity. When students learn to think independently and embrace challenging problems, they gain skills that extend far beyond mathematics," said Svetlana Smirnov, Regional Director.
Founded in 1997 by Inessa Rifkin and Irina Khavinson, the Russian School of Mathematics (RSM) is one of the largest K–12 after-school math enrichment programs in North America.
Today, RSM operates more than 75 locations across the United States and Canada and serves over 90,000 students, including locations throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. RSM's curriculum begins at age 4 and emphasizes deep conceptual understanding, logical reasoning, and problem-solving. Students are encouraged to articulate their thinking through classroom discussions, oral presentations, and structured problem-solving approaches that go beyond memorization.
Fall classes are now enrolling at RSM locations throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Families can schedule a complimentary 30-minute evaluation to determine appropriate placement for their child.
