CCCS Columbia College Computer Science | High School Programming Contest

CCCS High School Programming Contest

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For attendees!

Congratulations! You have registered for CCCS High School Programming Contest #9 (Spring 2025). The following is some information that will be helpful. The goal of the programming contest is simple: learn, make friends, and have fun.

Preparation

Here’s our CCCS HS Programming Contest discord server (https://discord.gg/EVjhfQRx). You can access this using your browser, but it’s probably best to download the discord app. Several of us are at the discord server. Feel free to introduce yourself and chat with us and with each other. Let us know if you have questions using discord: Ben, Cole, Ryan, Nasser, Robert, Dr.Liow.
If you have been studying C++/Python/Java, then you’re ready. Of course the more you practice the better you get. So keep learning! In the future, we might expand to include other languages.
Review your old assignments from your programming classes. Obviously your instructor is a great resource for your review and continual study of programming, problem solving, and computer science.
If you run out of problems (from your textbooks and from our instructors), no problem! Go to our discord server and ask for more problems.
We encourage you to bring your own laptop (and charger). There are PCs and laptops at Buchanan Hall. But you are always more comfortable and efficient with your own laptop.
Click here to go to the contest rules. We will go over the rules on the day of the contest.

Prizes

For Spring 2025, at this point (3/9/2025), the prizes are approximately

Tuition scholarship prizes: 3 x $1000
Cash prizes: $800 (probably in Amazon cash/gift cards)

Some restriction apply for the tuition scholarship prizes. Details (and other scholarship information) will be provided during the event.

We hope to grow the event in terms of the number of attendees and the total prize amount every year.

On the day

Of course the important thing is to get to the welcome/check-in/registration table! Once you’re there, the counselors (my CS majors) will guide you for the rest of the day.

On the day of the event, the welcome/check-in/registration table in Buchanan Hall (room 103) will open at 8AM. Breakfast is provided! Opening remarks approximately 8:45AM-9AM. The event begins at 9AM with warmups. The actual contest begins after lunch. Let us know if you are going to be late.
You are strongly encouraged to bring your laptop and charger if possible. There will be PCs and laptops at the contest venue.
Bring cash for t-shirt. Venmo is OK too.
Direction:
- Address: Columbia College at Columbia MO, 1001 Rogers St, Columbia, MO 65216 (google map)
- Parking: For event attendees, parking is free. The 10th Street parking lot is the most convenient. But you can use any non-residential parking lot.
  - pdf map: look for "A. 10th Street".
  - or interactive map: under "Parking Lots", look for "Tenth Street Lot".
- Once parked, head toward the contest venue, Buchanan Hall. The check-in room is room 103.
  - pdf map: look for "16. Buchanan Hall".
  - or interactive map: under "Buildings", look for "Buchanan Hall".
- If you have problems finding us, message us in discord or email us: Dr.Liow, Ben, Cole, Ryan, Nasser, Robert.
8AM-9AM: CHECK-IN, BREAKFAST, OPENING -- BUCHANAN HALL (ROOM 103)
- Check-in begins at 8AM.
- Breakfast.
- Opening remarks around 8:45AM-9AM
9AM-11:50AM: WARM-UPS -- BUCHANAN HALL (MULTIPLE ROOMS)
- This is a warm-up/practice session with an optional break. We will go over a set of questions.
- This is also an opportunity to practice using the contest website.
- We'll also form teams and help recommend category (intermediate or advanced) for each team.
- We'll go over the contest rules page.
12PM-12:50AM: LUNCH -- DULANY HALL (LEE ROOM)
- Lunch. There will be a zoom meetup with Saurav Bhattarai (CCCS graduate 2022) who is a software engineer at Google. This is an informal chat. You will have opportunities to pose questions to Saurav.
1PM-4AM: CONTEST -- BUCHANAN HALL (MULTIPLE ROOMS)
- Contest!
4PM-5AM: DINNER AND CLOSING -- BUCHANAN HALL (ROOM 103)
- Prize presentation. Closing remarks. Dinner.