14/06/2024

IMPA Tech graduate student receives OBMEP gold medal.

Leonardo Giboski Segheto, 18, winner of four medals at the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematics Olympiad for Public Schools), received his latest award from the competition on June 11th at a ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. The young man, born in Chapecó (SC), has lived in Rio since April when he began his journey at IMPA Tech. Leonardo shared more about his relationship with mathematics in #AlémDasEquações. Check it out!

Upon receiving his fourth OBMEP medal, won last year, he highlighted the importance of the Olympiad in this new phase of his life. “I am very happy with this medal, even more so with President Lula present at the awards ceremony. This achievement is very important because it made my admission to IMPA Tech possible,” he stated. In addition to Leonardo, eight other IMPA Tech students received gold medals at the National Awards Ceremony in Rio de Janeiro.

But Segheto's relationship with OBMEP began well before this celebration. It was in 2019, during the 8th grade of elementary school, that the student won his first medal in the competition, a bronze. From then on, excited by the achievement, he joined the PIC (Junior Scientific Initiation Program) and dedicated himself even more to the competition in the following years.

“The classes at PIC were a lot of fun. I made some friends and we had a very interesting exchange, as it was an environment with people who already had medals. This experience helped me a lot. I studied using the OBMEP material itself, doing old exams, and using books from the scientific initiation program,” she said.

Subsequently, the student won gold in all editions he participated in: 2021, 2022 and 2023 – the competition was not held in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Now, in 2024, Leonardo is an undergraduate student in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation at the Porto Maravalley hub. “It’s a unique experience! The classes are great, in a welcoming environment, with people from all over Brazil who are interested in mathematics,” he stated.

The young man from Chapecó, who had considered studying medicine during high school, saw in the OBMEP (Brazilian Mathematical Olympiad for Public Schools) a chance to improve his skills in the exact sciences. “Before the OBMEP, I didn't see mathematics as a possible undergraduate field. I took some entrance exams, mainly in Santa Catarina, because I wanted to study medicine. But I think it was the Olympiad that opened my eyes and, with the opportunity offered by IMPA Tech, I made the decision to participate in the selection process,” he stated.

The process of moving to Rio was filled with expectations among the family and a lot of excitement to begin studies. "I was apprehensive, but we talked a lot with the IMPA Tech coordination and with the other students who had been selected, and that reassured me," he stated.

IMPA's graduate program accepts students from all regions of the country, and in this first year, selection considered performance in knowledge olympiads (OBMEP, OBM, OBF, OBQ and OBI) or the ENEM (National High School Exam) math score.

It wasn't an easy choice, but the student is enjoying his undergraduate studies and is confident in his decision. "I plan to pursue a specialization in mathematics and then continue my studies. Perhaps do a master's and a doctorate, possibly at IMPA, or study abroad. I'm open to new opportunities," Leonardo concluded.