CCCS Columbia College Computer Science

CCCS High School Programming Contest #10
March 14, 2026

What is it? [goto top]

A day of programming activities, competitive programming contest (in a team of at most 3 members), meeting with CS majors from Columbia College, etc. At this point, the programming languages used are C++, Python, and Java. There are three categories: Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. The questions in Advanced are more challenging than the ones in Intermediate. The Beginner category (new in 2026) is a non-competitive category. You can view the Beginner category as a workshop. Teachers are welcome to join their students in the Beginner category. Here's our flyer.

Note that you need not form a school team. We can help you find a team during our morning warmup session. You can be choose to be a team of one. You need not be registered by your teacher -- you can register individually. You need not arrive on our campus in a school bus. You or your parents can drive to the event too. Parking is free. Parents and teachers are welcome. Food is provided for parents and teachers too!

There will be prizes!

UPDATE ON EARLY CHECK-IN OPTION (3/3): The early check-in was very popular: 67% indicated interest! Unfortunnately we cannot find a staff member to stay overnight in the dorm with the participants. We are canceling the early check-in option this year. We will prepare for this earlier for next year's contest. Stay tuned.

NEW! EARLY CHECK-IN OPTION! For spring 2026, we are looking into an early check-in option:

• You check in on Friday morning before the contest and meet your host (a CS major).
• You have breakfast, lunch, and dinner with all the other early check-ins and hosts. For dinner, we might go to Columbia downtown (15-minute walk).
• You attend CS classes, programming contest practice sessions, and CS events.
• You either stay over-night in our dorms (free of course) with other early check-ins and the hosts, or your parents pick you up at the end of the day.
• You then attend the contest the next day.
• If we do offer the early check-in option, we will probably limit the number of participants to ~10.
• We are working through the early check-in option. If you are interested, make sure you say so when you register.

Are there prizes? [goto top]

Yes! There will be tuition scholarship prizes (see below) and cash prizes (probably in the form of Amazon e-gift cards)!

• Advanced:
  • 1st: Every team member gets $3000/yr ($12000 total)
  • 2nd: Every team member gets $2500/yr ($10000 total)
  • 3rd: Every team member gets $2000/yr ($8000 total)
• Intermediate:
  • 1st: Every team member gets $1600/yr ($6400 total)
  • 2nd: Every team member gets $1400/yr ($5600 total)
  • 3rd: Every team member gets $1200/yr ($4800 total)
• Beginner: Non-competitive.

Excluding the winners, everyone gets $1000/yr ($4000 total) just for participating!!! All the above tuition scholarships are annual awards for up to three years of renewal after initial year. For instance a winner of the first place team of Advanced will be awarded $12000, i.e., $3000 per year for four years. This is a total tuition scholarship prize pool of $140,400. Here are the terms and conditions for the tuition scholarships.

Who is this for? [goto top]

• High school students with knowledge of C++, Python, and/or Java.
• There are three categories: Advanced, Intermediate and Beginner. The Beginner category is non-competitive. You can decide which category you want to join during the Warmup session in the morning. We can also help you decide.
• There is a limited number of laptops and PCs. We highly recommend that you bring your own laptops.

When is this? [goto top]

Saturday March 14, 2026, 9AM-5PM. The actual contest begins after lunch (see schedule below). So it's OK to check in late especially if you live far away from Columbia, MO.

What is the location? [goto top]

• Columbia College at Columbia, MO (Address: 1001 Rogers Street, Columbia, MO 65216)
• Parking: Parking is free. The Miller parking lot is the most convenient. The next is 10th Street parking lot. But you can use any non-residential parking lot.
  • pdf map: look for "C. Miller" or "A. 10th Street".
  • or interactive map: under "Parking Lots", look for "Miller Lot" or "Tenth Street Lot".
• Check-in (and meals): Dulany Hall.
  • pdf map: look for "10. Dulany Hall".
  • or interactive map: under "Buildings", look for "Dulany Hall".
• Contest venue: Buchanan Hall.
  • pdf map: look for "16. Buchanan Hall".
  • or interactive map: under "Buildings", look for "Buchanan Hall".

How much does it cost? [goto top]

For Spring 2026, the event is free! Food is provided! ...

• Breakfast (Panera breakfast sandwich, fruit cup, coffee, juice)
• Lunch (Elior buffet)
• Dinner (Domino's pizzas)
• Snacks and drinks throughout the day.

Students can purchase a commemorative t-shirt for about $20.

What’s the schedule? [goto top]

• 8AM-9AM: CHECK-IN, BREAKFAST, OPENING -- DULANY HALL (BANQUET ROOM)
• Panera breakfast. (Drinks and snacks provided throughout the day.)
• Opening remarks at ~8:45AM
• 9AM-11:50AM: WARMUPS -- BUCHANAN HALL
• Practice session.
• Decide which category you want to join. We'll help you decide if you need help.
• Form teams. We'll also help to form teams if you don't have one. It's OK if you prefer to work alone. But it's more fun to work in a group.
• 12PM-12:40PM: LUNCH -- DULANY HALL (BANQUET ROOM)
• Buffet lunch
• Talk and Q&A with Ryan Frappier, senior software engineer at Google
• 12:45-5PM: CONTEST -- BUCHANAN HALL
• 5PM: DINNER, CLOSING -- DULANY HALL (BANQUET ROOM)
• Prize presentation
• Closing remarks
• Domino's pizzas

Are there contest rules? [goto top]

What do participants say about the contest? [goto top]

Where do I register? [goto top]

• Students: Here’s the registration form. Parents/guardians/siblings are welcome and encouraged to attend and can register as guests when a student registers.
  • Registration opens: 9/29/2025
  • Registration closes: 3/7/2026. We will try to accomodate late registrations. Go ahead and register!
  Parents are welcome. (During registration, include parents as guests.)
• Teachers: Teachers are welcome and encouraged to register and attend the event. Even if you are not attending the event, you can enter your contact info so that we can email you info on our future events. Here's the registration form.
• Bulk registration: If you are a teacher registering a group of students it might be more convenient for you to email Dr. Liow (yliow@ccis.edu) directly.

I’m registered! Now what? [goto top]

Sponsors [goto top]

The CCCS High School Programming Contest began in 2015 and was a local event. In 2025, we expanded by sending invitations to high schools in a 3-hour driving radius from Columbia, MO. We hope to be one of the largest programming contests in MO. Whether you are a graduate of CCCS or a corporation or someone who believes in the importance of CS, by supporting our high school programming contests, you are supporting our computer science outreach and education. If you are sponsoring as a corporation, you are increasing your company's profile and branding to future software engineers.

Your contribution will help us continue to grow and expand our programming contest for years to come. Thank you for your support in creating future generations of software engineers and computer scientists.

Click here to make a donation. (You can donate electronically or by check.) In the comments, you can indicate how you want your donation to be used. Email Dr. Liow (yliow@ccis.edu) and let us know the payment has been processed so we can check the account and make sure the donation was posted to the correct account. A tax receipt will be issued to you from Columbia College.

Who are the organizers? [goto top]

• Dr Yihsiang Liow (Columbia College, yliow@ccis.edu)
• Mr Nathaniel Graham (Columbia Area Career Center, chgraham@cpsk12.org)
• Computer Science Club (Columbia College)

Who should I talk to? … I have questions [goto top]

• CCCS HS PC discord server
• Dr Yihsiang Liow (yliow@ccis.edu)
• Cole Schwandt, President of CS club (ctschwandt1@cougars.ccis.edu)
• Ryan Harvey, VP of CS club (rsharvey2@cougars.ccis.edu)

FAQ [goto top]

• Q: What is the deadline for registration?
  A: We’ll accommodate late registrants as much as we can. So go ahead and register!

• Q: I can't find 2 other teammates from my school. Can I still participate?
  A: Sure. You can be a team of 1. A team of 2 is fine too. On the day of the event, you can also form a team with students from another high school!

• Q: Do I need a teacher's permission/approval? Do I need a teacher to be the team coach?
  A: You (and your teammates) can register individually. You do not need a teacher to register the team. Of course if you have a teacher as a team coach, he/she is welcome to attend the event too!

Results [goto top]

Contest #10 (3/14/2026)

Counselors (CCCS majors): Andrew Woods, Ben Hamilton, Ben Kelly, Cole Schwandt, Eric Schultz, Hunter Derenski, Mark Noble, Nasser Alahaideb, Oladayo Oyedeji, Ricky Spires, Ryan Harvey, Yonathan Siele

Sponsor: Columbia College (space, food, tuition scholarship)

Contest #9 (3/13/2025)

• Number of high school students, parents, teachers: 21, 10, 1
• Cities/towns of attendees (sorted):
  • California, MO
  • Columbia, MO
  • Fenton, MO
  • Knob Noster, MO
  • Olathe, KS
  • Wildwood, MO
• High schools (sorted):
  • California R-1 High School
  • Hickman High School
  • Homeschool
  • Knob Noster High School
  • Lafayette High School
  • Lindbergh High School
  • Muriel Williams Battle High School
  • Olathe Northwest High School
  • Rock Bridge High School
• Results (sorted):
  • Advanced
  • 1st: Andrew Trask, Ben Hamilton, Ricky Spires
  • 2nd: Christian Moegling, Philip Chindris, Ray Ward
  • 3rd: Vidur Kothur
  • Intermediate
  • 1st: Charles DiBlasi, Landin Woods, Oskar Cobb
  • 2nd: Aasiyah Arowogbadamu, Hadeel Adam, Hunter Smith
  • 3rd: Arphita Sureshkumar, Ty McDonald
• Counselors (CCCS majors): Ben Kelly, Cole Schwandt, Eric Schultz, Grant Clark, Mark Noble, Nasser Alahaideb, Robert Oladayo Oyedeji
• Sponsors:
  • Columbia College (space, food, 3x$1000 tuition scholarship, $500 for prizes)
  • Nathaniel Graham ($300 for prizes)