The son of Ghana’s beloved “quiz mistress,” Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, has continued the family’s legacy of academic excellence — this time on the international stage.Augustus Kaufmann,
A student at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) in the United States, has placed second in the prestigious Leo Schneider Student Team Competition, part of the Ohio Section of the Mathematical Association of America.
Representing the CWRU Math Club alongside teammates Nate Brown and Avi Chetlin, the trio solved 8 out of 10 challenging mathematics problems.
They missed out on first place by the slimmest of margins — just a single point.The competition is a tough annual event where teams of three undergraduates work together to solve problems covering topics like calculus and linear algebra. No calculators or computers are allowed — students must rely purely on their knowledge, analytical skills, and teamwork.
This isn’t Augustus’s first impressive showing. He was also part of a previous CWRU team that placed second among Ohio universities in another undergraduate maths contest.At CWRU, Augustus is actively involved in the university’s maths community, currently serving as Risk Manager for the Math Club.For many Ghanaians, the Kaufmann name is already synonymous with brilliance.
His mother, Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, is one of Ghana’s most admired academics and public figures. She is the long-standing host of the hugely popular National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) since 2006, and currently serves as Dean of the School of Engineering Sciences at the University of Ghana
A trailblazing biomedical engineer, Prof. Kaufmann earned her degrees (including a PhD) from the University of Pennsylvania and did postdoctoral research at Rutgers University before returning home to inspire generations of young Ghanaians through education.
This latest achievement by her son is being celebrated as another proud moment for the family and for Ghana.