Robert Hosler of Lebanon Valley College Competes at IBM "Battle of the Brains"

2012 Jan 20

Robert Hosler of Harrisburg, Pa., was among two teams of student computer programmers from Lebanon Valley College battling for a spot to attend the World Finals of the 36th annual Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), sponsored by IBM.

The Mid-Atlantic Regional Contest served as the qualifying round for the World Finals-only 100 elite three-person teams advanced to the World Finals. The final contest will take place in May at the University of Warsaw in Poland.

The contest, also known as the Battle of the Brains, challenges students to solve complex and rigorous real-world problems using open technology and advanced computing methods under a grueling five-hour deadline. In one day, the students will complete an entire semester's worth of computer programming.

The two teams from Lebanon Valley College placed 54th and 74th in the competition, both correctly solving two problems. Hosler is a senior computer science and art and art history major.

Considered the largest and most prestigious computer programming competition in the world, the Battle of the Brains reaches tens of thousands of students from more than 2,000 universities, 88 countries, and six continents. Since IBM began sponsoring the contest in 1997, participation has grown more than one thousand percent. During the 2010–2011 contest, more than 24,000 students participated in the regionals portion alone.

LVC's computer science curriculum is distinguished by its emphasis on computer programming and a decidedly mathematical nature. Five of the required seven CS courses are primarily about programming, and programming plays an important role in most of the advanced courses. This emphasis develops strong analysis and problem-solving skills. Students take 19 credits of mathematics (seven courses), more than is typical of undergraduate CS programs. This math foundation gives students an analytical background that applies broadly in their CS coursework, helping them become better programmers and analysts.

Students in the program spend a lot of time working one-on-one with faculty on class projects, in independent study, or as a member of the competitive programming team. It is in this setting that students and faculty can accomplish the most, and it is a hallmark of the program. LVC's computer science students work very hard, and the faculty work right along with them.