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������˾�� Wildcards take first in regional programming contest

Students from ������˾�� earned first place at the most recent Denison Spring Programming Contest on Feb. 28, 2026, competing against more than a dozen teams from colleges and high schools across Ohio.

������˾�� sent two teams to the all-day event: the Scot Bots, including Miles Fike �27, Osen Mac-Iriase �26, Hannah Venzon �28, and Anany Sachan �27, and the ������˾�� Wildcards, which included Suraj Acharya �26, Mehdia Sadat �27, Saidamir Osimov �27, and Elizabeth Haar �26. The Wildcards secured first place after solving five of the contest�s six problems. �They were the only team to solve that many problems, and they did it in less total time than any other team,� said Heather Guarnera, assistant professor of computer science, who coached both groups.

The contest, now in its 36th year, challenges teams to solve a set of six complex programming problems during a four-hour window without the use of the internet or electronic devices other than the computers they use to code. Students can track other teams� progress for the first three hours, but the final hour is a blackout period, heightening the suspense and strategy as teams race to complete solutions. In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by speed and by penalties for multiple incorrect submissions.

This year�s competition included teams from Denison University, Ohio Wesleyan University, Granville High School, and ������˾��. Guarnera noted that solving all six problems is rare, making the Wildcards� performance especially impressive.

Acharya, a mathematics and computer science major who had participated in the competition twice before, said the contest offered a valuable opportunity to apply complex concepts like dynamic programming from his coursework in a high-stakes, fast-paced environment. �Taking Algorithm Analysis with Dr. Guarnera not only prepared me for recognizing problems in dynamic programming but also solving them,� he said, adding that the team�s greatest advantage was familiarity with the tools the competition requires.

The Scot Bots and ������˾�� Wildcards included (from left to right, back) Sachan, Osimov, Mac-Iriase, Fike, and Venzon and (from left to right, front), Haar, Sadat, and Acharya with Professor Guarnera (front, far left).

Still, the team�s camaraderie was ultimately the most memorable aspect of the event for Acharya. �I believe that enjoying the competition is the best outcome you can get,� he reflected, �and I definitely enjoyed it.�

Beyond the technical challenge, Guarnera emphasized that the event showcases the competencies ������˾�� cultivates in its graduates: problem-solving, critical and creative thinking, effective collaboration, deep disciplinary knowledge, and the ability to engage in both active listening and reasoning under pressure.

�It�s also a competitive evaluation of our students alongside peer institutions,� Guarnera noted. �And this year, they represented us well. Our students knocked it out of the park!�

Featured image: ������˾�� students, Acharya (left) and Haar (right) take their turn in the computer lab; only two teammates are allowed at a time in the lab, which increases the challenge and requires concentrated collaboration.

Posted in Homepage Featured, News on March 16, 2026.