Chung tops in regional math competition

Columbia Falls High School senior Yeo Chung is one of the top math students in the state of Montana.

Chung recently competed in the Montana Council of Teachers of Mathematics’ regional math competition and scored highest among male competitors.

Nearly 1,100 students from across Western Montana competed in the event. Chung won a $200 scholarship and has a chance at $500 scholarship if his test score proves to be one of the best in the state.

The test was broken into three 30-minute sections.

“It was ridiculously difficult,” Chung said last week. “But it was also fun.”

Chung and his parents moved here from South Korea when he was in the seventh grade for a better education.

“An American education is better than a South Korean education,” he said. “The U.S. is renowned around the world (for its schools).”

Chung had to learn English quickly along with his studies. His father, Jae, has since returned to Korea to teach science, as it was difficult to find a job here. Yeo lives with his mother, Bok Lim, and great uncle and aunt, Henry and Chong Bruce.

Chung said he enjoys Montana.

“People are nice,” he said. “It’s much better than South Korea.”

Chung said he plans to study electrical engineering in college. He has a 3.89 grade point average on the unweighted scale and a 4.17 GPA on the weighted scale.

About a dozen other Columbia Falls math students attended the competition with Chung. The trip was funded by the Columbia Falls Academic Endowment Fund, which provides academic opportunities for high school students.