A&M International Students Place in Chicago Programming Conference

They've written code with the best, pushed their mouse to the pad and dazzled Windy City monitors. Texas A&M International University students recently placed in the Sixth Annual Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) National Conference in Chicago.

A&M International team members competed against over 780 students from over 90 different colleges and universities in the three-day competition, placing third in Systems Analysis and Design and fourth in Networking.

Winning team members in Systems Analysis and Design included Karim Garza, B. J. Everett and Aladdin Hall. Networking team members were Lilliana Lopez, Maribel Mata and Andres Gonzalez.

Students also competed in Visual Basic, C++ and Web Design and included Garza, Gonzalez, Hall, Lopez, Mata and Pedro Saenz.

Faculty sponsors included Jesus Carmona, instructor of Information Systems, and Dr. Stephen Lunce, associate professor of information systems.

Dr. Lunce, faculty advisor to the Student Systems Group, the campus' AITP link, said the students' performance was impressive and bodes well for their futures in Information Technology.

"Our students clearly stood shoulder to shoulder with top students from across the country and impressed judges and other participants with their ability. I know that they have bright futures ahead of them in Information Technology and we look forward to hearing of their continued success," Dr. Lunce said.

A&M International offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Computer-based Information Systems through its College of Business Administration and Graduate School of International Trade and Business Administration.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Lunce at 326. 2502, visit his home page at www.tamiu.edu/~slunce, or email to slunce@tamiu.edu.

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