SSU's Department of Mathematics and Computer Science Hosts Computer Bowl, March 12

SALISBURY, MD--The 10th annual Eastern Shore Computer Bowl is Friday, March 12, in the Wicomico Room of Salisbury Stateâs Guerrieri University Center.

Seventy-two high school students and their coaches from the Eastern Shore will converge on the SSU campus with PCs and surge suppressors in tow. The Computer Bowl, an annual competition cosponsored by Conectiv and SSUâs Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, provides area students with an opportunity to test their general knowledge of computers and their problem-solving skills.

According to Mary Lou Malone, director of the 1999 Eastern Shore Computer Bowl, "We look forward to hosting this competition each year because it is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for local students, who share an interest in computers, to gather together for a day of challenge, creativity and teamwork." Each high school is permitted to bring two teams of four students each. Students will be given a computer literacy test which will cover basic concepts of computers, technology and programming, and a programming test, which will be a team effort. The programming test requires students to work as a team to analyze problems, design algorithms to solve those problems, implement the algorithms as computer programs, and test the programs.

"The 'computer revolution' has affected all of our lives," added Malone. "Students who participate in our Computer Bowl have a healthy respect for the computer as a machine that does what you tell it to do, not what you want it to do. They appreciate the organization, effort and skill which go into designing and developing the sophisticated software which we take so much for granted."

Points are awarded based on the number of correct programs written and the difficulty of those programs. The programs will be judged by faculty from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science and guest judges from SSUâs Instructional Technology, Horn Point Laboratory (Cambridge), and Wor-Wic Community College.

While students are engaged in problem solving, their coaches will attend the workshop, "An Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming," presented by SSU computer science professor Dean DeFino. Following the competition, a luncheon and awards presentation will be held in The Commons Bistro. Conectiv awards cash prizes, to be used toward the purchase of hardware or software, to the teams with the best five scores. Each of these teams receive a plaque, and the members of those teams receive savings bonds. Each participant receives an official Eastern Shore Computer Bowl T-shirt and a certificate of participation.

According to Matt Likovich, public affairs representative of Conectiv, "The Computer Bowl is a challenging event which encourages teamwork and creativity. Our sponsorship reflects Conectivâs support for quality educational experiences for the young people in our community."