AlgomaUniversity  Supplied by Algoma University…
(SAULT STE. MARIE, ON – March 30, 2015): Students from Algoma University’s Mathematics and Computer Science Department podiumed at the 16th annual Northern Michigan University (NMU) Programming Competition this past weekend in Marquette, Michigan, earning third place overall.
Each year, Algoma University sends teams to the programming competition, which provides additional practice for those participating in the prestigious Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest. The competition exposes students to real life computer programming problems and working around tight deadlines. Each team is given six questions to solve in five hours. With only one computer per team, students have to solve the problems at hand by using C, C++, C#, or Java languages, and only communicate amongst themselves. Teams are allowed to ask for technical assistance from a judge, but only the runner of the team can consult with the judge, which must be done through written notes. No face-to-face communication is allowed.
A total of 86 students making up 31 teams representing five universities and one secondary school competed in this year’s event. Algoma University, Lake Superior State University (Sault Ste. Marie), Michigan Technological University (Houghton), NMU, The College of St. Scholastica (Duluth), and Copper County Programmers competed.
Team Algoma Bits Please, comprised of Connor Flood, James Ruckstahl, and Daniel Harasymiw had the highest finish for Algoma U, ranking 7th. The team managed to solve two of the six complex programs.
Five of the top six placing teams were from Michigan Technological University, and many were formed with graduate students.
The Algomarithm, comprised of Justin Rhude, Michael Thomas, and Thomas Barton-Hammond earned 9th place. Brogrammers, another Algoma team, made up of Vincent Lalande, Jacob Prozaic, and Erik Fischer finished 16th. Five students on both of these teams are only in their first year of study.
Only 19 teams managed to solve two of more problems successfully. Five teams only managed to solve one problem.
The high placing of Algoma U’s three teams allowed Algoma U to secure third place overall in the competition. Michigan Technological University earned the top spot in first place.