Newsletters
Lina Saka, a 10-year-old student from Trabzon, achieved a perfect score of 100 in the mathematics category of the international STEM Olympiads.
She is the only student from Türkiye to rank first in the world across all grade categories in the competition, which included participants from 153 countries.
Following her victory, Saka earned a spot to represent Türkiye at the final competition in Rome, Italy, this July.
"I felt very proud when I won the world championship," Saka told DHA. "I entered it thinking it was a normal exam. I solved 25 questions in 60 minutes. I knew it went well when I finished."
Saka lives in the small Yomra district of Trabzon, with a population of 51,660 people.
Her interest in mathematics began before she started primary school. Since then, she has participated in several international competitions and achieved notable results.
Her recent success in the STEM Olympiads follows a series of high-level performances in international competitions.
This includes the American Math Olympiad, organized by Southern Illinois University and the Singapore International Math Contests Centre.
Her father, Mehmet Salih Saka, described her as a disciplined student. "Lina is a bright child who can absorb all the information given to her," he said. "She works regularly and stays consistent. She also reads so many books that we cannot keep up with her."
Despite her success, Lina Saka’s family faces challenges in sending her to the upcoming international finals.
The young student received invitations to three different global events scheduled for late June and July in Singapore, Dubai, and Rome.
Her mother, Ayca Karadeniz Saka, stated that the travel and accommodation costs have become a significant burden.
"Our belief in Lina grew even more after her success in Singapore," her mother said. "However, these competitions are costly. The expenses for accommodation and flights for a five-day trip are very high. Since all three events occur at the same time, we are struggling."
The family is currently seeking support from organizations and individuals to ensure Lina can participate in all three finals.
"We want her to be there and wave our flag," Ayca Saka added. "We are waiting for support from people who value education and science."
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
2 min read
