Media Release

For Immediate Release

November 4, 2008

Computing Science Huskies world class

The CS (Computing Science) Huskies are the best programming team in Atlantic Canada and can compete with the best talent in the world.

They proved that Nov. 1 at the Northeast North American Finals, a major computing science competition at the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT).

The CS Huskies finished seventh at the competition against teams from MIT, Harvard, Brown, and the Rochester Institute of Technology, to name a few. Canadian schools at the event included McGill and Concordia.

CS Huskies Coach Dr. Pawan Lingras said the team was disappointed they won’t have the chance to compete at the world finals in Stockholm, Sweden, but added they can take great pride in their performance.

The competition required the team to demonstrate their talent in computing science by solving a number of extremely complex programming problems in five hours.

The team solved four problems, the most ever by a CS Huskies team at regional finals, and notably, the same number as teams from Harvard, Brown and Concordia.

First among the Atlantic Canadian teams, the CS Huskies were the first team to solve two problems, led after 75 minutes, and stayed in the top four – within striking distance of first – for more than three hours.

“They showed that they can take on literally the best programming talent in the world,” said Dr. Lingras. ”It has been a privilege to be associated with such an Atlantic Canadian programming dynasty.”

This is the 11th straight year Saint Mary’s advanced to the Northeast North American Finals -- the only team to do so from Quebec and Atlantic Canada. In fact, MIT and Harvard are the only other teams to reach the regionals every one of those 11 years.

The team defended their Atlantic regional title last month by defeating 22 teams at the APICS Programming Competition at the University de Moncton. The win marked the sixth time a team from Saint Mary’s has taken home the top prize at the APICS competition (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008). In 2002, the team of computing science students from Saint Mary's made it to the World Finals held in Hawaii.

The CS (Computing Science) Huskies team this year included Harry McCleave, Chris Adams and Jonathan Kenney. In addition to Dr. Lingras’ coaching, the CS Huskies were helped during their training by CS Huskies alumni Blair Doyle, Stuart Crosby and system administrator Mike Brunt.

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For more information:

Blake Patterson
Public Affairs Officer
Saint Mary's University, Public Affairs
(902) 420.5514
E-mail: blake.patterson@smu.ca
www.smu.ca