SOUTH FORSYTH — A South Forsyth High School student has been named one of 11 semifinalists in the state for a competition involving science, technology, engineering and mathematics components.

Harish Kamath, an 11th-grader, is the only student from Forsyth County to reach this level of the Siemens Math, Science and Technology Competition for his independent research in developing a computer algorithm.

“I like computer science and math, and so I looked for a problem that blended the two,” Kamath said.

More than 1,700 applicants across the nation participated in the competition, according to Maggie Gustavus, media relations and world language department chair at South.

Winners represent an “outstanding group of students whose projects demonstrate a great aptitude in STEM research.”

“Harish is an outstanding calculus student, but his mathematics ability expands far beyond the typical high school curriculum,” said Carol Sikes, Kamath’s AP calculus teacher. “His research work in the area of graph theory goes well beyond my basic understanding of the area. I had to go back and relearn some things to be able to understand his incredible work.

“The fact that he initiated this research and continued to work on it for months without much direction is a testament to both his love for mathematics and outstanding work ethic.”

For more information on the competition, visit siemenscompetition.discoveryeducation.com.