 |
Computer Science |
|
|
Computer Science |
|
Teams of three students are presented with a set of problems to solve. Problems are selected from domains such as mathematics, computer science, cryptology, logic, and business. Students may program in BASIC, C, C++, FORTRAN 77, Java version 4.2, PHP, Pascal, or Python. Visual BASIC and Javascript are not available. Please note that the languages of instruction at SRU are C++ and Java. Users of other languages must be aware that proctors may not be able to assist with problems of using those languages.
All problems will require input and output to be in text form. Programs must read data from standard input (the keyboard), and access to data files will be via I/O redirection from the command line. Programs must not open any files! You will be supplied with a set of test data for each problem. Programs will be judged with official data files in the specified format.
Each team will be assigned a workstation accessing Linux through an
X-server. We will use 
Test, a graphical contest environment, to automate common
contest procedures. Standard Unix tools will be available as well. SRU
students and professors will be present to assist teams with the mechanics
of editing, compiling, and running programs.
Our goal is to create the fairest possible environment for our competitors. By creating our own friendly environment, RockTest, program development is simplified, yet no team finds itself using an environment familiar to other teams but not to them. We have chosen to use a Unix/Linux compute server so that all teams are using the same computer, providing the same compute power to all competitors. The combination of the RockTest environment with Unix/Linux enables us to offer a wide variety of programming languages without the need for judges to jump between different environments to judge programs written in different languages.
Click here to find out!
Prizes are awarded to teams from the top two schools in each division. Note that competition is by school, i.e., from any one school, only the top-scoring team in each division is eligible for prizes.
Continuing our fit of whimsy, we ordered last year's prizes from thinkgeek.com and x-tremegeek.com again! The prizes were:
Programming textbooks for teachers
Competition rules are modeled after the rules from the Association for Computing Machinery International Collegiate Programming Competition.
Registration is limited to 45 teams. Provided there are still seats available, the first three teams from a school are accepted upon application. Additional teams will be accepted by mid-January if there is room. There is no registration charge.
Download, complete, and mail the application for from the registration materials (with some browsers you may need to right-click on the link to download the announcements.pdf file) or send the following information via email to Dr. Conlon:Please be careful spelling team members' names, so that names on prize and participation certificates will be correctly spelled, and don't forget your shirt size.
Teachers are invited to the pre-contest session, but must leave the contest area upon start of the contest, approximately 8:40. There will be refreshments and computer accounts for teachers. We expect to present an optional teachers' program as well, including a tour of our new lab and classroom facilities. More details on this will be forthcoming.
Student lunches (all-you-can-eat) cost $4.80. Please encourage your students to bring exact change. The cost of teachers' lunches will be covered by the Computer Science Department.
Please note that the World Language Competition for high school students is held on the same day at Slippery Rock University. You may be able to share transportation with the foreign language department in your school. We try to schedule our starting and ending times to be compatible with those of the Language Competition. The Language Competition is expected to run from 8:30 until 1:00.
SRU is approximately 50 miles north of Pittsburgh, near Interstate 79 exit 105.
 |
| The Advanced Technology and Science Hall, site of the 2007 SRU High School Computer Programming Competition. |
Via Interstate Highway: Take I-79 north from Pittsburgh or south from I-80 to exit 105, PA 108. Take PA 108 east three miles to PA 173 at the traffic light in downtown Slippery Rock (BP and Kwik-Fill gas stations on opposite corners). Turn right (south) onto PA 173, South Main Street. Go through the first traffic light, and past Sheetz and McDonalds. Slippery Rock University will appear on your left.
Proceed to the next traffic light, and make a left onto Kiester Road. Proceed to the blinking light, and turn left into the oval. You are now facing the Advanced Technology and Science Hall, where the competition will be held. Turn right and park in the West Lake Parking Lot, on your right.
From the north via PA Route 8: Take PA 8 south from I-80 to PA-108, about 10 miles. Turn right. Proceed about 3 miles, through the blinking light, to the traffic light in downtown Slippery Rock (BP and Kwik-Fill gas stations on opposite corners). Turn left onto PA 173, South Main Street. Go through the first traffic light, and past Sheetz and McDonalds. Slippery Rock University will appear on your left.
Proceed to the next traffic light, and make a left onto Kiester Road. Proceed to the blinking light, and turn left into the oval. You are now facing the Advanced Technology and Science Hall, where the competition will be held. Turn right and park in the West Lake Parking Lot, on your right.
From the south via PA Route 8: Take PA 8 north from Butler to PA-173 at the Old Stone House. Turn left. Proceed about 4 miles to the first traffic light, at Kiester Road. Make a right onto Kiester Road. Proceed to the blinking light, and turn left into the oval. You are now facing the Advanced Technology and Science Hall, where the competition will be held. Turn right and park in the West Lake Parking Lot, on your right.
A campus map can be found here.
For further information on the competition, contact the contest staff at via email.
You can reach Karen Busi, the Computer Science Department Secretary, at 724-738-2040.
| Problems from Past Competitions | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2001 HS Contest | 2002 HS Contest | 2002 Intramural |
| 2003 HS Contest | 2004 HS Contest | 2005 HS Contest |
| 2006 HS Contest |
Solutions from 2003 High School competition
| Results of past High School Competitions | Year | Upper Division | Lower Division | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First Place | Second Place | Third Place | First Place | Second Place | Third Place | |
| 2007 | Franklin Reg. HS | Indiana HS | Franklin Reg. HS | Blackhawk HS | Upper St. Clair HS | Franklin Reg. HS |
| 2006 | Knoch HS | North Hills HS | Upper St. Clair HS | Clarion HS | ||
| 2005 | Shady Side Academy | Mt. Lebanon HS | Burrell HS | Clarion HS | ||
| 2004 | Sewickley Academy | Upper St. Clair HS | Clarion HS | Central HS (Erie) | ||
| Year | First Place | Second Place | Third Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Sewickley Academy 1 | Sewickley Academy 2 | Winchester Thurston School |
| 2002 | Sewickley Academy 1 | Sewickley Academy 2 Blackhawk HS |
|
| 2001 | Vincentian Academy | Sewickley Academy | Blackhawk HS |
| Full High School Competition Results | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 2006 | 2005 |
| 2004 | 2003 | 2002 |
| 2001 |
Strategies for writing competitive programs
Surf to:
Last Updated: January 18, 2007
Webmaster: michael dot conlon at sru dot edu, Michael P. Conlon
