ACU team wins Lifeline Programming Challenge

Recently, more than 40 competitors made their way to the campus of Abilene Christian University to stretch their minds and contend with their peers at the annual Lifeline Programming Challenge.

ACU placed first in the student division. "Team Jamaican Hopscotch Mafia" included Nigel Bosch, freshman computer science major from Loveland, Colo., Tom Prince, sophomore computer science major from Round Rock, Texas, and Ian Duncan, freshman computer science major from North Richland Hills, Texas. The second place team was from The University of Texas at Arlington. The Milsoft Utility Solutions team "Enterprise Service Bus" won in the corporate division.

"The ACU School of Information Technology is excited to have held this third annual competition because it gives our students a chance to test their skills against others and gives them a chance to rub shoulders with future industry peers,” said Dr. Dwayne Towell, assistant professor of computer science at ACU. “It also gives us a chance to interact with some of our alumni.”

In the Lifeline competition, each team of three competitors was given one computer, eight computer programming puzzles and four hours to solve as many of the puzzles as possible. To solve the puzzles, the teams had to write computer code in a programming language of their choice (C, C++, or Java). Teams could use up to three “lifelines” – ten-minute timeout sessions with a coach – to help them through tough spots.

Fourteen teams attended the competition. In the student division, 10 teams from ACU, Howard Payne, The University of Texas at Arlington, Hardin Simmons University and McMurry University competed. All four of the teams competing in the corporate division were from Milsoft Utility Solutions, a local software company.

"This event is an excellent opportunity for computer programmers to apply their skills and knowledge in a fun competitive atmosphere, and the iSchool looks forward to hosting more Lifeline contests in the future," said Towell.

If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact ACU's Public Relations Office or call (325) 674-2696.