The results are in! The 2024 National Computing Challenge, hosted in collaboration with some of Canada’s top accelerated schools and the Mensa Gifted Youth Program, has unveiled its winners—and the future of innovation is looking bright.
This year’s competition saw a number of participants from Grades 5 through 8 tackling problems rooted in logic, critical thinking, and computational reasoning. The challenge, designed for young minds eager to push their limits, emphasized concepts foundational to programming logic.
Winners Spotlight
The competition featured three levels of questions: Easy, Medium, and Challenging, totaling 72 points. Participants demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills, and the top scorers were:
Grade 8 National Computing Challenge Winners:
- Mone Miller (Mensa, Ottawa, ON)
- Mason Liston Markey (Bliss Carman Middle School / Mensa, Fredericton, NB)
- Brendan Alilovic (University of Toronto Schools / Mensa, Toronto, ON)
Grade 7 National Computing Challenge Winners:
- Ishaan Alagawadi (Westmount Charter / Mensa, Calgary, AB)
- Dayoun Lee (Mensa, ON)
- Deven John Henley (Jack Miner P.S. / Mensa, Whitby, ON)
Grade 6 National Computing Challenge Winners:
- Sonya Kara (SLI The Sidney Ledson School / Mensa, Toronto, ON)
- Ram Sahasrabudhe (Allan A. Martin Sr. PS / Mensa, Mississauga, ON)
- Caleb Leung (Donald Cousens Public School / Mensa, Markham, ON)
Grade 5 National Computing Challenge Winners:
- Aiden Chen (SLI The Sidney Ledson School, Toronto, ON)
- Victor Stefan (Rogers PS / Mensa, Newmarket, ON)
- James Yiheng Wu (SLI The Sidney Ledson School, Toronto, ON)
Notably, SLI The Sidney Ledson School in Toronto, ON, had multiple winners across different grade levels, highlighting its commitment to fostering excellence in computational thinking among its students.
Celebrating Canada’s Brilliant Youth
The National Computing Challenge aligns with the ethos of the Winner Magazine Brilliant Youth Series, a platform dedicated to celebrating young achievers making significant strides in academics, entrepreneurship, and innovation. At BNS News, we are proud to spotlight the dedication and talent of the nation's youth, who are poised to excel in dynamic, future-forward fields like computer science.
Through initiatives like these, students not only build technical skills but also gain the confidence to pursue careers in rapidly evolving industries such as fintech, medtech, and artificial intelligence. This competition demonstrates that when young learners are provided with challenging platforms, they rise to meet and exceed expectations.
Beyond the Challenge
Participating schools, including some of the most academically rigorous institutions, embraced the competition as an opportunity to foster curiosity and higher-order problem solving among their students. The event also exemplified the importance of building critical thinking abilities—skills that go beyond the classroom to impact real-world problem-solving.
Congratulations to all the participants and winners who have demonstrated brilliance and motivation in every sense of the word. Your success embodies the spirit of excellence that BNS News and Winner Magazine strive to celebrate.
To learn more about the getting involved with upcoming youth challenges, visit The CSR National School Review website.