Students to compete in programming world finals
By: Melissa Filbin
Issue date: 3/31/05 Section: News
William Reading has been interested in computer programming since he was in elementary school.
"That's what happens when your parents stick computers in your room," Reading said.
His interest has paid off. On Saturday, Reading, along with Tristin Brown and Andrew Echols - the Texas A&M Maroon Team - will travel across the Pacific Ocean to compete in the World Finals of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) sponsored by IBM.
This programming competition, held in Shanghai, China, pits 78 teams from around the world against one another with the goal of writing computer programs to solve eight problems in five hours, said assistant professor of computer science and team coach John Keyser.
Margaret Ashida, director of corporate university relations for IBM, said this is the world's most prestigious computer competition, designed so that it is unusual for teams to be able to solve all eight problems within the time constraint. IBM supports ACM and the worldwide contest to help develop the talent and skills of emerging leaders, she said.
Reading said the team, who won the south central regional competition, is not nervous and attributes its success in the regional competition to its members' relaxed attitudes.
Professor of computer science Bjarne Stroustrup taught Reading and said this trip will be a great experience for the students. Stroustrup added that he was proud that A&M's team beat students from the University of Texas, Rice University and Baylor University at the regional competition.
Stroustrup wrote the computer programming language, C++, used by A&M students in the competition. C++ is the most widely used programming language in the world, Stroustrup said, and can be found in everything from Internet browsers, Google and computer games to the latest F-16 fighter jets and the Mars Rover.
The Texas A&M Maroon Team meets twice a week to practice, Reading said. However, to prepare for the competition, it has been practicing every day for five hours.
"That's what happens when your parents stick computers in your room," Reading said.
His interest has paid off. On Saturday, Reading, along with Tristin Brown and Andrew Echols - the Texas A&M Maroon Team - will travel across the Pacific Ocean to compete in the World Finals of the Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) sponsored by IBM.
This programming competition, held in Shanghai, China, pits 78 teams from around the world against one another with the goal of writing computer programs to solve eight problems in five hours, said assistant professor of computer science and team coach John Keyser.
Margaret Ashida, director of corporate university relations for IBM, said this is the world's most prestigious computer competition, designed so that it is unusual for teams to be able to solve all eight problems within the time constraint. IBM supports ACM and the worldwide contest to help develop the talent and skills of emerging leaders, she said.
Reading said the team, who won the south central regional competition, is not nervous and attributes its success in the regional competition to its members' relaxed attitudes.
Professor of computer science Bjarne Stroustrup taught Reading and said this trip will be a great experience for the students. Stroustrup added that he was proud that A&M's team beat students from the University of Texas, Rice University and Baylor University at the regional competition.
Stroustrup wrote the computer programming language, C++, used by A&M students in the competition. C++ is the most widely used programming language in the world, Stroustrup said, and can be found in everything from Internet browsers, Google and computer games to the latest F-16 fighter jets and the Mars Rover.
The Texas A&M Maroon Team meets twice a week to practice, Reading said. However, to prepare for the competition, it has been practicing every day for five hours.
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