Dual-enrollment student from Novi High School wins Schoolcraft College’s Pythagorean Prize for mathematics excellence 

Ajay Arora, a junior at Novi High School and a dual-enrollment student at Schoolcraft College, was named the winner of the college’s 2018 Pythagorean Prize.

As the first-place winner, Arora received a $3000 prize award.  Second place went to Kangni Liu of Commerce Township, who receives a $1500 award, and the third-place winner, Harshang Patel of Canton, receives a $1000 award.

To qualify for the award, a student must be enrolled at Schoolcraft College during the Fall 2017 or Winter 2018 semester and have completed at least three mathematics courses at the college, with at least one course being at the Math 200 level or above.  The student must also have a 3.25 or higher grade point average (GPA) and a 3.50 GPA in mathematics courses. 

In addition to winning Schoolcraft College’s Pythagorean Prize, Arora placed eighth in the Michigan Mathematics Prize Competition, a prestigious contest for high school students.  He was also invited to compete for the USA Mathematical Olympiad Team.

Kangni Liu finished her studies at Schoolcraft College in December, 2017 and transferred to Kettering University in Flint to major in computer science. Patel will transfer to the University of Michigan’s College of Engineering in Fall, 2018 and plans to study computer and electrical engineering and minor in mathematics. 

The prize is named for the ancient Greek mathematician Pythagoras.

Learn more about Schoolcraft College’s mathematics program