LINCOLN, NEB. — Alex Zhai, a 2008 graduate of Uni High, was one of six students chosen to represent the United States at this year's International Mathematical Olympiad.

Zhai and his teammates were named to the U.S. team on Saturday, June 14, based on their scores on the USA Mathematical Olympiad exam and the Team Selection Test.

The Harvard-bound Zhai won a silver medal at the 2006 IMO in Ljubljana, Slovenia, after his sophomore year and a gold medal at the 2007 IMO in Hanoi, Vietnam, after his junior year.

The 2008 IMO will be held in Madrid, Spain, from July 10 to 22.

The following students will be Zhai's teammates. Their biographical statements are taken directly from the Web site of the Mathematical Association of America, which oversees the selection of the U.S. team. The original bios can be found here.

Paul Christiano, The Harker School, San Jose, Calif.
From the MAA: "Christiano was born and lives in San Jose. He spends most of his time playing piano, programming, or learning and doing mathematics and computer science. His interest in mathematics significantly predates his ability to form long-term memories, so he can't hope to explain its origin, but he credits his high school teachers and especially his parents with encouraging him to pursue that interest. Next fall, he will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology."

Shaunak Kishore, Unionville High School, Kennett Square, Pa.
From the MAA: "Kishore plans to study applied mathematics, possibly biology or economics. He won the Princeton Mathematics Contest this year and presented at the Young Epidemiology Scholars national convention on the spread of tuberculosis. In his free time, he enjoys running track, and playing Frisbee and video games. Kishore will plans to attend MIT this fall."

Evan O’Dorney, Berkeley Math Circle, Berkeley, Calif.
From the MAA: "O’Dorney’s passions are music and math. In his spare time, Evan improvises at the piano, juggles, and invents board games. He likes doing tae kwon do with his friends. Evan triumphed at the 2007 Scripps National Spelling Bee after two years of intensely studying the dictionary. Evan especially enjoys solving and making up math problems. For the past year, he has created problems used in monthly contests at the Berkeley Math Circle."

Colin Sandon, Essex High School, Essex Junction, Vt.
From the MAA: "Sandon is a National Merit Finalist, a Siemens AP scholar, and a 2007 U.S. Physics Olympiad semifinalist. He led his high school’s team to an undefeated 2008 season in the Vermont Math League and was a member of the 2007 Vermont State champion chess team. He enjoys computer programming, playing chess and go, and reading fantasy and science fiction. Sandon will be attending MIT in the fall."

Krishanu Sankar, Horace Mann School, Riverdale, N.Y.
From the MAA: "A USAMO winner in 2007, he was also invited to attend the Physics Olympiad camp. He credits his parents and brother for encouraging him, as well as his math teacher, Christopher Jones. Sankar has been studying violin for seven years, is a brown belt in karate, and enjoys playing frisbee and video games. Sankar will be attending MIT this fall."

Zhai's MAA bio reads as follows:

"This will be Zhai’s third consecutive trip to the IMO. He earned a silver medal in Slovenia in 2006, and a gold medal at last year’s IMO in Vietnam. He has received the National Latin Exam gold award during all four years of high school. In his free time, he plays chess and soccer, loves to read, and 'learning unusual skills of limited utility.' Zhai will be attending Harvard this fall."

Zhai and his teammates, along with about 50 other top math U.S. students, will participate in the Mathematical Olympiad Summer Program at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for the next several weeks. MOSP began on June 10 and will continue through early July.