Coding skills take center stage as first-year students compete at regional contest

Kentucky State's inaugural team gains experience alongside collegiate programmers from six states

Two Kentucky State University first-year students put their problem-solving skills to the test Oct. 31 at the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) Mid-Central Regional, joining collegiate programmers from six states for a competition emphasizing technical knowledge, teamwork, and quick thinking.

Pauline Iradukunda, a computer science major, and Nice Cibinda, an engineering major, competed as ThoroCodeX, Kentucky State's inaugural team in Division 2 of the competition, held at the University of Kentucky's Esports Lounge in Lexington. Coached by Kentucky State graduate student Malik Thompson, the students gained experience applying classroom knowledge to complex programming challenges under a five-hour time limit.

Drawing participants from Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, the regional contest challenged teams to solve intricate problem sets sponsored by industry leaders including JetBrains, OpenAI, Google Cloud, and Google DeepMind. Division 2 provides opportunities for developing competitive programmers to strengthen foundational skills, with Division 1 offering more advanced challenges and a pathway to national and international championships.

For Iradukunda, the experience offered an opportunity to assess her developing skills and identify areas for continued growth.

“Participating in the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) Mid-Central Regional was a great learning experience,” she said. “It challenged me to think critically and developed my problem-solving skills. I expanded my network and gained a better understanding of areas where I need to improve.”

Looking ahead, Iradukunda hopes to build on that experience. “For future competitions, I plan to dedicate more time to preparation and strengthen my skills,” she said.

As a coach and mentor, Thompson, a Kentucky State graduate pursuing a master's degree in computer science with a cybersecurity concentration, draws on applied research experience, including a 2025 internship at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. His work was previously featured in the University's story, From Internship to Impact: Malik Thompson Is Building New Pathways in STEM.

Mentorship also connected Dr. Richard Maiti, associate professor of mathematics and computer science, with competition host Dr. Jerzy Jaromczyk, his former undergraduate professor. As students prepared for the contest, Dr. Maiti joined educators and coaches for a symposium on the evolving risks and opportunities in computer science education.

Dr. Jaromczyk commended the students' efforts, emphasizing the value of Division 2 as an introduction to competitive programming. Building on this inaugural experience, Kentucky State plans to prepare future teams for Division 1 competition as students develop their skills.

Kentucky State's inaugural participation establishes a foundation for future teams to compete at the regional level, expanding opportunities for students to apply classroom learning, develop technical skills, and connect with the broader computer science community.

Photo caption: Kentucky State University's inaugural ICPC regional programming team participated in the Oct. 31 competition at the University of Kentucky. Pictured from left are Pauline Iradukunda, a first-year computer science major; Malik Thompson, graduate student and team coach; and Nice Cibinda, a first-year engineering major.

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