High School Computer Programmers Sought for A&M International Contest

Savvy high school computer wizards are being sought to participate in a first-ever High School Computer Programming Contest scheduled at Texas A&M International University on Saturday, Nov. 11.

A&M International's Student Systems Group (SSG) and the College of Business Administration will host the event with the competition focusing on three different programming areas.

"There will be three different contests during the competition," Anissa Gonzales, SSG president explained. "Students will be allowed to demonstrate their programming skills in VisualBasic, C++, and Web Page design. Competitors may enter two of the three contests."

Gonzales said the competition is open to all Laredo high students. The contests will be administered by student members of the SSG, which is the local Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) chapter.

Entry fee is $10 per student per contest or $15 per team of two students per contest. The deadline for registration is 8:30 a.m. On site on the 11th, but participation is limited to the first 16 teams in each event.

Interested participants can preview examples of problem statements and complete on-line registration at www.tamiu.edu/~slunce/competition.

The site was designed by Robert Krochmal, a University senior working toward his BBA with a major in Computer Information Systems (CIS).

The competition is being coordinated by Maribel Mata, also a University BBA-CIS senior, who can be reached at maribel_01@yahoo.com. The contest administrator is Dr. Stephen Lunce, associate professor of Information Systems.

The competition will be held in the College's computer labs (Pellegrino Hall 219 and PH221) from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Certificates and trophies will be awarded for first, second and third place. Autographed copies of A&M International's Radcliffe Killam Distinguished Professor of Information Systems Dr. William Newman's best-selling text, VisualBasic for first place teams, plus participation certificates will be awarded.

For more information, call 326-2502, email to slunce@tamiu.edu, or visit offices in the College of Business Administration, Pellegrino Hall 302E.

University office hours are from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Journalists who need additional information or help with media requests and interviews should contact the Office of Public Affairs and Information Services at pais@tamiu.edu