By Julia Brodsky

I met with Ilana Walder-Biesanz, the leader of National Math Stars, to discuss her innovative program that’s changing the landscape of advanced mathematics education for exceptionally gifted children. Walder-Biesanz understands these students’ challenges firsthand. Growing up in Portland, Oregon, she was six years ahead in mathematics and required a customized educational path.

Join host Michael Flusche as he chats with Ilana Walder and Alex Lochoff, from National Math Stars, a groundbreaking program that identifies mathematically extraordinary students as young as second grade and provides them with ten years of personalized support, mentorship, and access to advanced STEM opportunities—all at no cost to families or schools.

National Math Stars, which funds tutoring, enrichment and supplies for 10 years, is moving into the Midwest, adding another 100 underserved students.

By Jo Napolitano

By the time Xavier Cherkas was 5 years old, his college-educated mother, Ericka Lee, could no longer help him with his math homework. A gifted student, her little boy had already moved on to algebra.

By Emma Stokes

Gifted students in five additional US states – Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin – will each receive over $100,000 in resources over ten years from the not-for-profit National Math Stars (NMS) organization. The aim of the onsite support is to help them advance from grades 2 and 3 through to high school graduation and the upper echelons of math and science.

Students in five additional states will each receive over $100,000 in resources over ten years.

HOUSTON – National Math Stars (NMS), a not-for-profit that supports mathematically extraordinary students, today announced an American midwest expansion, beginning with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin. This extension comes on the heels of early successes in NMS’s national pilot and Texas-based programs.

National Math Stars is a 10-year, fully funded program that supports and inspires exceptional elementary students’ love of mathematics.

Alumna Ilana Walder-Biesanz ’13 is continuing Olin’s vision of engineering for everyone by starting a nonprofit called National Math Stars, dedicated to ensuring mathematically extraordinary students from all communities have the resources they need to reach the frontiers of math and science.