OBMEP: Medalist from the interior of Espírito Santo state is accepted into IMPA Tech.
Júlia Fonseca
Read also: IMPA inaugurates showcase of awards and accolades;IMPA has an open position for IT Specialist 3
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Originally from Vila Pavão, the eighth smallest city in Espírito Santo, Júlia Fonseca won her third OBMEP medal in the 19th edition. Her good performance in the Olympiad secured her acceptance into the 2025 selection process for IMPA Tech, the Bachelor's degree in Mathematics of Technology and Innovation. The final results of those accepted were released this Monday (3). “Opportunities in a small city like the one I live in, when compared to other larger cities, are much smaller, so each of my medals was celebrated with special gratitude, because I wasn't in an advantageous situation, but none of that prevented me from dedicating myself to each edition of the Olympiad,” said the young woman. Júlia's history with OBMEP began when she was in the 6th grade of elementary school. Since then, the student has participated in six editions of the Olympiad and won three medals and two honorable mentions. The first experience earned her an honorable mention, and the long-awaited medal—a national bronze—came in 2021, in the 9th grade. After that, Julia also won a silver medal in the 2nd year of high school, along with a regional gold; in addition, of course, to the bronze in the 19th OBMEP 2024. “I was confident in winning a medal, and the news that I actually won the medal I was aiming for brought me great happiness,” said the medalist. In this edition, studying for the Olympiad involved a lot of dedication and the attempt to balance school, the OBMEP, and studying for the university entrance exam. “I studied full-time and, in addition to the seven hours of classes, because I depended on school transportation, I only had time to start my studies and other personal tasks after three o'clock in the afternoon. After a while, I managed to reorganize my routine and take some of my time to study for the Olympiad.” Read more: Marcelo Viana receives 'IMSA Mathematician Award' Folha: 'A surprising mathematical proof' Aloisio Araújo is interviewed by Valor Econômico In addition to stimulating advancement in mathematics studies, OBMEP was a great source of opportunities for Júlia. “I always had a great interest in participating in the Olympiad, which encouraged me to deepen my studies in mathematics. OBMEP also brought me incredible opportunities.” The student completed the virtual PIC in 2024 and, even with the distance, was able to build good friendships and says that “in fact, this was something that made the experience even more interesting.” The scholarship offered by the program also helps with the young woman's costs. “In my reality, I can say that OBMEP was one of the main reasons for maintaining my passion for mathematics, coming from a small town. Vila Pavão is one of the cities with excellent performance in OBMEP when considering the number of residents in relation to the number of awards. Knowing that I am among these award winners is very gratifying for me, because perhaps, with my experience, I can encourage other students to get closer to mathematics, even coming from a small municipality.” Júlia's mother, Carla Fonseca, also highlights the role of OBMEP in the student's academic life. “It was through OBMEP that Júlia acquired a love for mathematics and realized that this could really be part of her life. OBMEP was absolutely necessary in her life, as it opened many doors for her, which were only truly opened due to her great dedication to her studies and willpower to pursue her dreams,” she said. And now OBMEP has helped the young woman secure a place at IMPA Tech. IMPA's undergraduate program allocates 80% of its places to medalists from five knowledge olympiads. “I intend to pursue a degree in mathematics. Mathematics is a field that opens up diverse employment opportunities, and although I'm not yet entirely sure which path to follow, the passion for mathematics is certainly something that belongs to me,” said Júlia. Read also: IMPA inaugurates showcase of awards and accolades;IMPA has an open position for IT Specialist 3
Read also: IMPA inaugurates showcase of awards and accolades;IMPA has an open position for IT Specialist 3