Concordia Nebraska places first at computer programming competition

In early April, a group of computer science students from Concordia University, Nebraska traveled to Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, to participate in the Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges Central Plains Conference (CCSC-CP). 

The conference, held from April 9 – 11, provided students with opportunities to attend presentations on research and industry topics and compete in contests. A highlight of the event was the programming competition, where Concordia sophomores Silas Curtis of Worden, Illinois, Calvin Gross of Saint Peters, Missouri, and Noah Niederklein of Pittsburg, Kansas, earned first place. The team demonstrated excellent problem-solving and teamwork under time constraints, beating 16 other collegiate programming teams from across the Midwest. Additional student participants included Mason Lockwood, Lawson Fairchild, Reagan Zierke, David Marin, Ashton Hays and Matthew Kruse. 

“The CCSC-CP trip was a great opportunity for our students to apply their knowledge and skills. We attend this conference every year because it’s an excellent way to expose our students and faculty to both academic and industry perspectives in computer science. I’m proud of our students’ effort and success on this trip and thankful to be a part of this community.”

On the way to the conference, the group toured the headquarters of Garmin in Olathe, Kansas. The visit helped students understand career pathways in the technology industry, including internships and early-career roles. Garmin, a global leader in aviation, automotive, fitness, marine and outdoor technologies, employs over 20,000 individuals worldwide, with approximately 5,000 based at its Kansas City headquarters. Students learned about the company’s emphasis on software engineering, embedded systems and product development. These areas are closely aligned with Concordia’s computer science program. 

Dr. Marcus Gubanyi, assistant professor of computer science, accompanied the students on this trip and had this to say, “The CCSC-CP trip was a great opportunity for our students to apply their knowledge and skills. We attend this conference every year because it’s an excellent way to expose our students and faculty to both academic and industry perspectives in computer science. I’m proud of our students’ effort and success on this trip and thankful to be a part of this community.” 

Students who participated in the competition include: 

Silas Curtis, Worden, Illinois 

Lawson Fairchild, Roanoke, Indiana 

Calvin Gross, Saint Peters, Missouri 

Ashton Hays, Bozeman, Montana 

Matthew Kruse, Denver, Colorado 

Mason Lockwood, Palmer, Nebraska 

David Marin, Omaha, Nebraska 

Noah Niederklein, Pittsburg, Kansas 

Reagan Zierke, Johnston, Iowa 

Concordia University, Nebraska’s computer science program is designed to help students meet current and future challenges in technology and application-related fields. Here, students can gain a strong theoretical foundation in computer science while bolstering their practical skills with supplemental learning opportunities like internships, extracurriculars and work study experiences.