Webster University Computer Science Club Programs its Future by Participating in ICPC Mid-Central Regional Contest

The Webster University Computer Science Club Coding Team: from left: Zach McColgan, Urmat Urustemov, Muaz Mohammed, Divyam Arora, and Zach Novak.

Webster University’s Computer Science Club (CS Club) recently competed in the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) Mid-Central Regional Contest for the first time in four years. The event was held in Cape Girardeau at Southeast Missouri State University. Two coding teams from the CS Club participated – the Golden Gorloks, which consisted of upperclassmen Divyam Arora, Zach McColgan and Urmat Urustemov, and the Gorlok Blues, comprised of underclassmen Muaz Mohammed and Zach Novak. 

The International Collegiate Programming Contest is an algorithmic programming contest for college students. Teams of three, representing their university, work to solve real-world problems, fostering collaboration, creativity, innovation, and the ability to perform under pressure. Through training and competition, teams challenge each other to raise the bar on the possible. ICPC is the oldest and largest programming contest in the world. 

Although the ICPC Competition is typically held in November, the 2023 competition was held in February 2024 due to a postponement resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.  

“Participating in the ICPC Mid-Central Regional Contest was an incredible experience for our Coding Team,” said Arora, who serves as the Coding Team lead. “It was our very first ICPC competition, and we gained invaluable experience that will undoubtedly shape our future endeavors. The challenges were both exciting and thought-provoking, and the team worked seamlessly to navigate them."

The Golden Gorloks team smiles for a quick photo during the competition.

During the competition, the Golden Gorloks solved five questions, which was the maximum number of questions solved by any team at the site. They placed 42nd out of 87 teams. The Gorlok Blues placed 79th out of 87 teams. 

“I enjoyed the whole experience - I was not expecting it to be as inviting as it was, but that really helped my nerves,” shared Zach Novak, a sophomore from the Gorlok Blues team. “I learned a lot about teamwork when it comes to coding and how it's not always a one-man job, as well as how to use my voice to share my thoughts which help further the discussion. This first competition and hopefully many more will benefit my future as a programmer. Getting to experience a more stressful coding environment helps build confidence. Additionally, the networking and communication aspects of the conference helped strengthen my skills and build my professional network.” 

Zach Novak and Muaz Mohammed, both members of the Gorlok Blues team.

“These coding teams are made up of bright and intelligent students,” said Lasanthi Gamage, coach of the CS Club and associate professor in Webster’s department of Computer & Information Sciences. “More importantly, they are self-motivated and dedicated students who are full of determination. I am happy to see how they came from different levels of knowledge and worked together. They continually support each other to grow. During the competition, they practiced interpersonal communications while problem-solving, learning from their mistakes to perform even better.”  

Arora is already looking forward to future competitions for the Webster University CS Club.  

“I can confidently say that our team is not only planning to participate again next year but is determined to secure an even higher position. The lessons learned from this competition have fueled our enthusiasm, and we are committed to honing our skills and strategies for a more competitive edge. We're excited about the opportunity to build on this foundation and showcase the growth of our Coding Team in the coming year.” 

The 2024 ICPC competition will be held as per usual in November 2024. 

The Computer Science Club at Webster University aims to provide students with hands-on tech experience, professional networking opportunities and peer support for all members. After being reinstated with a new constitution and vision in 2020, it has become one of the fastest growing clubs on campus, welcoming nearly 50 new members for the current academic year alone.