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The Competitive Programming team has once again demonstrated its competitive edge, dominating in both the Meta Hacker Cup and the 2024 International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) regional competition. Under the guidance of Abrahim Ladha from the School of Computing Instruction and club presidents Marianna Cao and Raymond Bian, the team’s success highlights their dedication, teamwork, and strategic preparation.

Meta Hacker Cup Success

Nearly 100 ɫ���� students participated in the Meta Hacker Cup, highlighting the growing enthusiasm for competitive programming on campus. This prestigious competition, held in multiple rounds, saw impressive performances from several ɫ���� participants:

• Maxwell Zhang (username “smax”): 7th place internationally in Round 2, 125th in Round 3
• Sunghyeon Jo (username “ainta”): 8th place in Round 3, 13th overall
• Kevin Shan (username: “kevin”): 185th in Round 3
• Marianna Cao (username: “mariannacao”): 169th in Round 3
• Weiyu Chen (username “cwystc”): 304th in Round 3
• Daniel Chang (username “DanielChang”): 157th in Round 3

To advance to the final round, participants must place in the top 25 out of 500 internationally. Jo excelled, finishing 13th in the finals.

“I’m grateful to the club members for their dedication and effort—we’ve all put in a lot of hours, and it’s great to have that shared commitment. Their energy and enthusiasm keep competitive programming at ɫ���� strong,” Cao said.

ICPC Regionals Triumph

The team also made waves at the ICPC Regionals, with 15 ɫ���� teams competing at Middle ɫ���� State University and securing four of the top 10 spots in the southern region.

The competition tasked teams with solving complex problems within a five-hour window, using just one computer per team. This format demands technical expertise, strategic thinking, and seamless collaboration. Typically, contests feature 11–13 problems, requiring innovative algorithmic solutions while balancing time and resource constraints.

The top ɫ���� team—comprising of Weiyu Chen, Kevin Shan, and Xieting Chu—solved all 13 problems, placing second in the region and third nationally.

“There’s a big difference between someone who scores a 99 on an exam and someone who scores a 100. If you score a 99, that was the best you could do. If you score 100, it’s because there were no more points on the exam to earn. Our best team solved 13 problems because the contest only had 13 problems,” Ladha said.

Two additional ɫ���� teams also earned medals:

• Maksim Krylykov, Daniel Chang, and Nguyễn Minh Nhật
• Raymond Bian, Jon Wang, and Marianna Cao 

Cao emphasized the importance of practice and teamwork in their success.

“We held weekly meetings with lectures and problem-solving sessions and added weekend training as ICPC approached. It was intense but effective,” she said. “With only one computer per team in the competition, we took turns coding while others worked on problems or debugged on paper.”

Building a Thriving Community

Cao’s journey with the Competitive Programming student organization began in her first year at ɫ����. While initially intimidating, the experience proved to be transformative.

“It was intimidating at first because everyone was so smart. But they pushed me to grow,” she shared. Now, as co-president alongside computer science major Raymond Bian, she’s proud of how far the club has come.

“This semester has been one of our most active. It’s inspiring to see so many people excited about competitive programming,” she said.

Together, Cao and Bian have worked hard to make the club accessible and engaging. From attracting members at club fairs to creating dynamic lectures, they’ve focused on fostering an inclusive community.

Cao also credited Ladha for his unwavering support. “His enthusiasm and encouragement have been a huge morale boost for all of us.”

Their efforts have paid off, with unprecedented participation this semester. New members actively attended lectures, engaged in discussions, and competed in events.

“It’s been amazing to see the community grow and thrive,” Cao said. “Seeing a room full of people excited about something nerdy reminds me why I chose to be part of competitive programming in the first place.”

Looking Ahead

The team plans to host a large-scale programming contest at ɫ���� this semester, aiming to further engage the campus community.

For students interested in joining, the club meets weekly on Thursdays from 5–6 p.m. in Van Leer Building room C240. A beginners’ workshop is also planned for later this semester.

Stay updated on club activities by following them on Instagram: @gtcompetitiveprogramming.