Programming Contests

The Association for Computing Machinery, ACM, is the primary society for computer science professionals in industry, academia, and government. Each fall ACM holds regional programming contests around the world. The top few teams from each region then participate in an international finals competition, usually in February. This is the premier programming contest in the world. Our region, the Mid-Atlantic, is one of the largest and the regional contest is held simultaneously at several sites. The contest itself is a one day, all day affair, on Saturday, November 5, 2016. The contest proper is a 5 hour period of intense programming in which teams of three students are given one computer and attempt to solve as many as possible as fast as possible from a set of about 8 programming problems.

Delaware normally has fielded one or two teams, and they have done very well in the past. Several teams have gone on to the international finals, and a '95-'96 team ranked 7th in the world. If you like a challenge and would like to hone your programming skills, organize a team for the contest! Get organized at the beginning of the fall term for the Mid_Atlantic Regional contest held on the first or second Saturday in November. In the past we have done weekly practice sessions in Sept and Oct and have participated in a warmup practice contest. Though retired, I'm willing to help organize: Prof. Emeritus David Saunders, saunders@udel.edu. A couple of old cribsheets are here.

Annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contests (and others)

• The 2021 (sic) Mid-Atlantic Regional contest was held February 26, 2022. Our two teams finished 12th and 48th in the field of 120 teams. Not too shabby! Subsequently "Competitive Programming Club" has been formed. Info here.
• The 2016 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest was held November 5, 2016. For us it was a building year. We didn't finish high. Next time!
• The 2015 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest was held November 7, 2015. We placed 33th of 185 teams. Another excellent result!
• The 2014 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest is written up in UDaily here. We placed 12th of 188 teams. A fine showing!
• The 2010 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest is written up in UDaily here. We were 24th out of 157 teams. Not bad!
• The 2009 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest - we didn't disgrace ourselves, but we didn't score high either. We'll show 'em next year!
• The 2008 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest is written up in UDaily here.
• The 2007 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest is written up in UDaily here. UD Gold went on to the International Finals in Banff, Alberta with coach Ben Breech.
• The 2007 Unnamed UD Internet Programming Contest, run by our own Ben Breech, was a big success for the UDel teams.
• The 2006 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest ...
• The 2005 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest was held on Saturday, Nov 12. Team UD Gold scored 18th of 153 teams. See UDaily archive for story.
• Photos from the Annual ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest, held on Saturday, Nov 13, 2004.
• The 28th Annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, Mid-Atlantic Regional contest was held on Saturday, Nov 8, 2003.
  • The contest involved 153 teams of 3 competing at 9 sites.
  • UDel teams traveled to Washington College where they were among 16 teams from Drexel, Hood, Navy, Rowan, Temple, UDel, Washcoll, and Coll of Southern Maryland. site photos.
  • UDel Gold (Parag Mital, Bill Moyers, and Richard Seagraves) placed first at site and 21st overall in the Mid-Atlantic region.
  • UDel's team190 (Pete Curt, Ray Wildman, and David Guralnick) tied for 46th place in the region.
• The 27th Annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest, We went to the Washington College site for the Mid-Atlantic Regional contest , Nov 9, 2002. A practice contest.
• The 26th Annual ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, 2001.
• The 25th Annual ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, 2000.
• The University of Delaware Invitational Programming Contest held on Saturday, April 15, 2000.
• UD internet programming contest, Feb 26, 2000. Winners: 1st Shippensburg, 2nd Rowan, 3rd UDel.
• The 24th Annual ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, 1999-2000.
  • The 1999 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional Programming Contest was held on Nov 6, 1999. Announement from ACM.
  • UDel teams are participated at a programming contest at Shippenburg University on Oct 28, 1999.
  • A practice contest was held on Oct 9, 1999.
• The 23rd Annual ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, 1998-99.
  • 1998 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest . was on Saturday, November 14.
  • Some teams participated at the Delaware contest site .
  • Finals at ACM International meeting, in April, 1999.
  • The 1998 Delaware teams.
• Results of the 22nd Annual ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, 1997-98.
  • Professor Keith Decker was the contact person for the programming contest in 1997-98.
  • 1997 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest .
  • Again this year U. Delaware was a site of the Mid-Atlantic contest,
  • The finals.
  • The 1997 Delaware teams.
• Results of the 21st Annual ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, 1996-97.
  • 1996 ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional contest ,
    Contest Date: Saturday, November 16, 1996, final standings.
  • The U. Delaware site of the Mid-Atlantic contest.
  • The international finals in San Jose Contest Date: March 1--2, 1997,
  • The 1996 Delaware teams.
• Results of the 20th Annual ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, 1995-96.
  • International finals held February 17, 1996 in Philadelphia, PA.
    Congratulations to Terry Haddock, Geoff Pease, and David Stabosz. Representing Delaware, this team ranked 7th in the world. Here are the Final standings.
  • ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional Programming Contest, November 11, 1995.
    • Final standings, Delaware placed 2nd in the region!
    • University of Delaware Contest site,
    • University of Delaware teams.
• Results of the 19th Annual ACM Collegiate Programming Contest, 1994-95.
  • A Delaware team: Marjeta Cedilnik, Jon Dowling, and Terry Haddock participated in the International finals held in February 1995 in Nashville, TN.
  • ACM Mid-Atlantic Regional Programming Contest, November 1994.
    final standings, Delaware team advances to finals!
• Local Sponsors: Our ACM student chapter and Upsilon Pi Epsilon