UAFS team captures computer science trophy

Two teams of students from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith placed first and fifth in a statewide computer science competition held in Conway, beating out several other colleges and universities.

Sam Shores of Alma (right) and Ryan Ewing of Fort Smith (left) captured the first place trophy, and Chris Alderson of Fort Smith and Chris Dungan of Gans went home with the fifth-place prize.

The students were given eight problems to solve within a five-hour period. Shores and Ewing solved six of the eight problems, one of only two teams to do so.

The competition, sponsored by the Acxiom Laboratory for Applied Research, had competitive challenges in computer and information science, information systems and computer science.

This was only the second year for UAFS to have a competitive programming team, according to a university statement.

“This being our first win says a lot about the quality of our students and the quality of the education they are receiving in the class,” said Rick Massengale, information technology instructor at UAFS. “These teams have met the challenge against the best programmers who are their peers in the state’s universities and colleges. They not only held their own, but they excelled.”

The next competition for the team will be in Martin, Tenn., in April, where they will  compete against teams from universities and colleges from the southeastern U.S.