If you follow the math education world, you might already know Patrick Honner. He’s taught in NYC public schools for 22 years, written for The New York Times, and shared his love of mathematical beauty through writing, photography, and public speaking. But what you might not know? His students are crushing it in COMAP contests.

COMAP runs several international math modeling contests each year, including the High School Mathematical Contest in Modeling (HiMCM)® and the Middle Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MidMCM), the International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IM2C)®, and the Mathematical Contest in Modeling (MCM)® and the Interdisciplinary Contest in Modeling (ICM)®. These multi-day competitions challenge teams to solve complex, real-world problems using mathematics, data analysis, and clear written communication, all under tight time constraints.

In 2024/2025 alone, Honner advised:

• 5 teams in MCM/ICM 
• 10 teams in HiMCM
• 2 teams in IM2C

And the results? 

• HiMCM – Finalist
• US Regional round IM2C – Finalist
• International round IM2C – Meritorious
• MCM – Outstanding + MAA Award
• HiMCM – Outstanding + NCTM Award
• IM2C – Regional Outstanding
• Other teams earned Successful Participant status in MCM

The MCM/ICM contests are designed for undergraduates, so the fact that Stuyvesant High School students participated (and won top honors) is no small feat. It speaks volumes about both their preparation and the guidance they received. Read more about their individual experience with the contest.

"I'm so proud of how our students have embraced the unique and compelling challenges of these modeling competitions. But the best part is how these mathematical modeling experiences change the way students think about math. I have so many students who are now excited about applying math in genuine ways to real problems that matter to them,” Honner said.

Preparing for COMAP contests isn’t easy, especially at the level Honner’s students compete. It takes planning, independent research, and the ability to think critically about real-world problems. Under his mentorship, students are not only building technical skills but also learning how to work as teams and communicate their findings clearly.

A former tech professional, Honner turned to teaching out of a love for math and a talent for explaining complex ideas. He’s known for bringing creativity into the classroom, blending math with writing, photography, and art. His blog, mrhonner.com, is filled with photos of real-world math, thoughtful lesson ideas, and reflections on math education. He writes regularly for publications like Quanta Magazine, where he connects cutting-edge research with the classroom experience.

We’re proud to have educators like Patrick Honner in the COMAP community. He’s not just preparing students to compete; he’s preparing them to think like problem solvers, collaborators, and future leaders in STEM.