BOLIVAR, MO – Southwest Baptist University students of the Computer Information Sciences (CIS) department won first and second place at the 14^th annual Central Plains regional programming contest of the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges (CCSC) on Saturday, April 5 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Nineteen teams from eight universities participated in the event including three teams from SBU.

SBU’s A team, consisting of Adam Carney (SR, Weableau, MO), Nate Sisk (SR, Sikeston, MO), and Michael Van DeVender (Nixa, MO), won the competition by submitting correct solutions to four problems during the competition.  SBU’s B team, consisting of Andrew Cook (SO, Kansas City, MO), Jacob Williams (SO, Hume, MO), and JR Smith (SR, Westphalia, KS) solved two problems successfully in 58 minutes winning for SBU a second place victory as well.  

“Our A team had three seniors, and this was the last competition of their college career for two of them.  I know their heart’s desire was to go out with a bang.  I think they did that and more,” said Dr. Tim DeClue, chair of the SBU CIS Department.  Coaches for the teams included CIS faculty Jim Cain, Jeff Kimball, and DeClue.

Competing on SBU’s C team and finishing in 12th place in the field of 19 teams was Blayne Riffle (FR, Bolivar, MO), Natalie Schroeder (FR, Topeka, KS), Christopher Stuckey (SO, Kansas City, MO).

“We’re going to miss this group of seniors.  They are really top-notch, but we’ve got some great freshmen and some sophomores and juniors who have been waiting for quite a while for their chance to shine on the victory stand for SBU.  Plus, our incoming freshmen look very strong.  They’ll be ready in a couple of years too.  God has been good to us, and we are going to continue to rely on His good will for the Department,” added DeClue.

The 15th Annual meeting of the CCSC-Central Plains region will be held April 3 and 4, 2009 on the campus of Southwest Baptist University.  

Complete results for the competition are shown below

Place  Team                                                                          Problems Solved     Time

 1.        SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY – A                     4                      472

 2.        SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY – B                     2                         58

 3.        University of Central Missouri – A                                                2                      154

 4.        Northwest Missouri State University – A                         2                      181

 5.        College of the Ozarks – B                                                  2                      215

 6.        Westminster College – A                                                    2                      339

 7.        College of the Ozarks – A                                                  2                      380

 8.        Drury University                                                                   2                      420

 9.        University of Central Missouri – C                                                1                      173

10.       University of Central Missouri – B                                                1                      215

11.       University of Missouri-Kansas City - A                            1                      215

12.       SOUTHWEST BAPTIST UNIVERSITY – C                     1                      247

13.       University of Missouri-Kansas City – B                           0                      0

13.       Northwest Missouri State University – B                         0                      0

13.       Northwest Missouri State University – C                         0                      0

13.       College of the Ozarks – C                                                  0                      0

13.       Park University – A                                                              0                      0

13.       College of the Ozarks – D                                                  0                      0

13.       Park University – B                                                              0                      0

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PHOTO CAPTION: FRONT (L/R): Michael Van DeVender, Christopher Stuckey, Natalie Schroeder, Jacob Williams, Andrew Cook, Meilani Williams MIDDLE (L/R): Andy Fulton, Blayne Riffle, Adam Carney BACK (L/R): Dr. Tim DeClue, Dr. Baochuan Lu, J.R. Smith, Nate Sisk, Team Coach James Cain NOT PICTURED: Team Coach Jeffrey Kimball