DePauw Stories

A team of DePauw students has won first place at the 2026 Indiana Collegiate Mathematics Competition (ICMC), claiming the top spot among 21 teams from 11 institutions. The winning trio of Chengyu (Mars) Wang ’29, Sihao Wang​ ’28 and Nam Pham​ ’29 finished with a score of 71.5 points, 8.5 points ahead of second-place Notre Dame and well above the competition average of 34. Three other DePauw teams competed as well, finishing 5th, 10th and 14th overall.

“DePauw went from never having participated to winning first place within just a few years of entering,” said Sutthirut Charoenphon, assistant professor of mathematical sciences and the faculty coach for DePauw’s mathematics teams. “We competed against — and beat — institutions with decades of tradition in this event. These students worked hard, and they deserve to be recognized. I am grateful to be part of a university that gave us the space to build something like this from nothing.”

Charoenphon initiated DePauw’s participation in ICMC in 2022. In the years since, she has taken an active role in organizing, recruiting and training the teams who compete. Although she works hard to make sure each squad is prepared, her leadership approach is directly informed by confidence in the students’ abilities and a desire to see them enjoy the process of learning and competing.

“I believe the skills involved in a math competition are ones students need to develop cumulatively on their own,” said Charoenphon. “If they know the math, they know it. There is no improvising in a math competition. I have one rule that I tell every student every year: No pressure to win. Enjoy the math and do your best. Winning is just a bonus.”

By taking pressure out of the equation, Charoenphon has created an environment in which her students can thrive. They entered this year’s competition relaxed and confident, fully trusting one another and the work they had done to prepare.

“We stayed focused on doing our best and performing to our own standard, rather than worrying too much about how other teams might do,” said Mars Wang. “We feel very fortunate, proud, and happy. I always believed our team had the ability to win, so it was especially rewarding to perform at the level we knew we were capable of under pressure. I hope this shows that students at DePauw can compete at a very high level.”

To commemorate the victory, DePauw will receive a plaque from the Indiana Section of the Mathematical Association of America. This is the first time in the 60-year history of the ICMC that DePauw’s name will appear on the winning plaque.

“Four years ago, the bigger schools looked past us,” said Charoenphon. “Now we've beaten them — and they won't forget DePauw's name."