HPU TAKES FIRST PLACE IN 2023 INTERNATIONAL COLLEGIATE PROGRAMMING CONTEST

HPU grabbed first, second, and fourth place in Hawai’i at this year’s International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) in Division I, contending against the University of Hawai’i at Hilo (UH Hilo) and BYU Hawai’i (BYUH). In Division II, HPU took second, fourth, and sixth place in Hawai’i. A total of 19 HPU students competed, with six three-person teams, and one student on a hybrid team. The ICPC contest scheduled for 2023 was postponed and took place on February 24, 2024. 

HPU has won the top spot in Hawai’i 13 times out of 21 Hawai’i contests, a remarkable accomplishment that has not been matched by any other university in the Hawai’i. The contest was first held in 2003, and HPU won in that inaugural year. 

The consistent excellence of HPU is evident in their Division I victories across multiple years, including 2003, 2006, 2011, the impressive streak from 2014 to 2021, and in 2023. Meanwhile, UH Hilo has claimed victory six times, and BYU Hawai’i has won twice. The University of Hawai’i at Manoa, having entered the contest in 2015, is still pursuing its first win.

The ICPC is recognized as the largest and most prestigious programming contest in the world. More than 50,000 students worldwide per year compete, from more than 3,000 universities in 111 countries, at over 400 on-site competitions. 

HPU Associate Professor of Computer Science Curt Powley, Ph.D., noted that HPU “competes in the Pacific Northwest Region, one of the toughest regions in the United States.”

HPU’s winning team name is #0000FF, the hexadecimal-number-system code for the color blue. The HPU students who competed on this year’s teams are:

 

Division I contestants:

First place: Pierre Erard, Anh Pham, Skyla Simmons-Robertson

Second place: Louis Bernhard, Paul Koch, Robin Paulik

Fourth place: Philipp Link, Aaron Bauman, Taylor Alagao

 

Division II contestants:

Second place: Matthew Holck, Grant Garrison, Joshua Leonard

Fourth place: Peter Aguilera, Nikki San Agustin, Noe Silva

Sixth place: Jack Felch, Luke Sirp, Somret Say

 

The hybrid team consisted of students from BYU Hawai’i, UH Hilo, and HPU (Lyric Leandro). The score did not count since they were not all from the same university, but it was an impressive intercollegiate collaboration experience, nevertheless. 

“We have two HPU graduates that worked for Google,” Powley said. “They told me most of the interview questions were program-contest type experiences. Both graduates believe they would not have gotten the job at Google without ICPC experience.” 

If an HPU student is interested in joining the award-winning computer programming team, Powley mentioned that they welcome all undergraduate and graduate students aiming to enhance their programming skills. They particularly encourage students in STEM majors such as computer science, math, biology, engineering, chemistry, environmental science, marine biology, marine science, and economics. Powley emphasized that every student brings valuable skills to the table.

“We have now had math, biology, engineering, and computer science majors who have competed in the ICPC,” said Powley. “Any student who works hard in preparing for and competing in the contest will greatly increase his or her  programming and problem-solving skills.  Visiting international students have also done extremely well competing for HPU, and we welcome them as well. HPU typically enters between three to six 3-person teams in the contest, so there are plenty of slots for students to compete.”  

For additional information on how to join one of HPU’s computer science programming teams, contact Powley at: cpowley@hpu.edu.