Novi Math Whiz to Compete in Elite Contest

NOVI, Mich. (WJBK) - Novi High School sophomore Raj Raina is headed to Boston to compete January sixth in the "Who Wants to Be a Mathematician?" contest.

"To be honest, originally I didn't think it was that big of a deal, but I guess it kind of is," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm nervous a lot, but I think I'll get through it."

"We're very proud of him. His accomplishments, so far, have been outstanding," said Abe Raina, his father.

He is a cardiologist. His wife is an optometrist. Even they don't understand what Raj is talking about.

"My wife [and I] are in the medical field, so we don't know much about math and we don't teach him much, but he's very, very self motivated," Abe Raina explained.

They're incredibly supportive and proud. Raj has already presented on environmental sustainability at the White House and the United Nations.

Now they're looking forward to the trip to Boston. Raj is only one of ten students in the country who scored high enough on a test to be selected for this competition. Of course, he had a perfect score.

"I'm good under pressure. I would say I'm good under pressure," Raj Raina told us.

Did we mention the $10,000 prize if he wins? $5,000 for the math department at Novi High and $5,000 for him.

"That the intention to win it, but, on the other hand, I'm also looking forward to having a really good time in Boston with a lot of cool people," he said.