The brightest minds and scientists of the future from the Magnolia Academy of Sciences – Santa Ana (MSA-SA) returned happy and triumphant, after having participated in the grand final of the Mathematics Olympiad that was held in Frankfurt, Germany, between April 28 and May 3.
Dylan Saavedra, who comes from a difficult economic background, is a 17-year-old 11th grader who won a gold medal in English and a bronze in a form-based essay in Spanish to improve the educational system.
“Schools must be more diverse, have more resources and have ethnic studies,” said Saavedra. “I have learned that all the effort made can give me a good education.”
In fact, Dylan was the only MSA-SA competitor to win a gold medal. He wants to be a professional car racer.
The worldwide competition brings together some of the brightest young minds from countries around the world to compete in mathematics, English and Spanish. To make it to the competition, the team of 10 MSA-SA students took first place in a national competition. They were the only team from the United States representing the city of Santa Ana.
“Our STEAM-based approach encompasses science, robotics and mathematics,” said MSA-SA Director Steven Keskinturk. “We try to focus on all of them and see the potential of the children.”
MSA-SA’s success is a drop in the bucket for the county’s education system “Yes, but any drop in the bucket makes a difference,” adds Keskinturk. “Therefore, for any student who comes to our school, we want to guide them, discover their maximum potential and get the most out of them.”
MSA-Santa Ana is one of 12 free public charter schools in the Magnolia Public Schools network in Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego counties. In 2025, Magnolia-Santa Ana Science Academy experienced a nearly 20% increase in student enrollment.
In 2024, Magnolia Public Schools received the Hart Imaginative and Prescient Award for Equity and Innovation from the California Charter Schools Association. Each year, many of its schools rank among the best regionally and statewide. Together, a committed staff is creating a pathway into STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics) and helping students achieve their higher education goals.
“This is the first time Santa Ana students have participated in a global competition outside of the United States,” Keskinturk said. “As children of immigrants, these talented students represent the promise of our country. They are incredibly smart, dedicated, and earned excellent grades in math and other subjects. We are proud of them.”
Bengisu Yilmaz, a 17-year-old teenager who is in her penultimate year of high school and wants to be an advanced pediatrician in the future.
“Children are the future of our society, so it is important to take care of their health,” he said.
She stated that she was motivated to compete in Germany: “I challenged myself. Coming from Santa Ana, we were in Europe, in Germany, so it was a very different environment, but we still persevered as a team.”
She wants to achieve her goals by taking advanced level classes and challenging herself, especially in situations with limited time for homework and studying.
“It starts with that, getting good grades in high school and then pursuing your professional goals by taking advanced paths, so that they hopefully lead you to the goal,” he stressed.
During the German Olympiad, students competed individually and with other countries. Academic activities included math quizzes, math challenges, brain teaser challenges, and cross-country math competitions.
Students participating in challenges in English or Spanish submitted written essays, competed in spelling bees, and performance challenges.
Unforgettable experience
For immigrant parents, seeing their children participate in a global competition on another continent generates a duality of feelings: the euphoria of the opportunities and, at the same time, the fear of not being able to travel with them, support them and celebrate their achievements.
“My daughter started participating in school competitions in second grade,” said AV, an immigrant father from MSA-SA. “I am impressed because the fact that she has reached this level of competence at such a young age is… incredible. I cannot accompany her on this journey, but I am very happy that the school offers these programs, especially for our Latino community. Our children have great potential and I am very grateful to the school,” the father added.
Sitting around a table near Principal Steven Keskinturk’s office, six students described their competitive experience in Germany.
“If we try hard enough we could achieve a lot of things,” said Roselyn Rodríguez.
“I competed in mathematics and English. I won bronze and silver,” said Eivin Kavilara. “I wanted to win gold in English because I speak English fluently.”
“When I grow up, I want to be a designer of 3D printed toys,” said Eivin Kavilara.
“I won money in mathematics,” said the girl Eshaan Exclaim Sahota. “What I learned from this trip to Germany is to never give up.”
“I like to compete in national and international events,” said Roselyn Rodríguez. “We all came in at least second or third place.”
“We worked hard and with a lot of dedication,” said Maheer Tomi Bamidele, a sixth grade student. “I’ve been competing in math since third grade at Magnolia.”
“I won bronze in mathematics and silver in English,” Eivin Kavilara highlighted. “I would have liked to win gold.”
“The support of my parents was traditional. I think they are very valuable in my path,” said Jonás Saavedra Olea.
Meanwhile, for Yuu Skylie Tsurumi, the competition “was easy.”
“I love math because it really challenges me, and it has always been my favorite subject,” said Tsurumi, a 12-year-old sixth grader and competition participant. “I found it very exciting to represent my country.”
