TCC’s Coding Competition: Teams Showcase Skill and Collaboration

Tidewater Community College held a Coding Competition on Saturday, March 29, in the Virginia Beach Campus’s Advanced Technology Center. TCC’s Business, Computer Science & IT Pathway sponsored the competition which brought together 18 students from a pool of 28 registrants. With six teams of three students each, the competition tested their skills in solving complex algorithmic computer programming problems, simulating the challenges typically encountered in both academic courses and real-world software development jobs.

TCC’s Computer Science faculty— Scott Davis, Stephen Harris, and Jared Oliverio—organized and launched the event. The faculty members designed the Competition to improve students’ problem-solving abilities while fostering teamwork. Each team was tasked with solving a series of algorithmic challenges that ranged from beginner-level to advanced. The problems required participants to demonstrate their knowledge of various programming languages, including Python and Java. The competition also mirrored the types of puzzles one might face in software developer interviews, with minimal support documentation and restrictions on using Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) that offer code assistance. This unique structure ensured the focus remained on raw programming skills, teamwork, and the ability to think critically under pressure.

According to Cassandra Small, a Computer Science Program Coordinator at TCC, students honed their group programming skills, learning how to collaborate effectively and approach problems from multiple perspectives throughout the event.

“The challenges provided invaluable experience for future academic or professional endeavors, as many students in the competition expressed their excitement about the learning process,” Small said.

Small noted that while most of the winners were Computer Science majors, some of the winners were Dual Enrollment and Information Technology.

Jayden Zuniga, Todbukh Burged, and David Holloway won first place by dazzling the judges with their ability to tackle the most complex problems with remarkable speed and precision. Their collaboration and technical prowess set them apart from the other teams, earning them the top spot.

Maksim Karavaev, Travis Wiggins, and Ethen Carter earned second place, displaying exemplary teamwork and creative approaches to solving some of the more difficult challenges. Their strong problem-solving strategies earned them a well-deserved second position.

Aria Celik, Myriam Gallant, and Makayla Hawkins took third place. They demonstrated solid technical skills and a great ability to adapt to the challenges as the competition progressed.

“Many of these students transfer to four-year institutions and pursue other technology degrees. Some may immediately begin seeking positions in the field of technology, but it all depends on the student’s career goals,” Small said.

The Computers for Success Club at TCC, Armed Forces Communications & Electronics Association International (AFCEA), and Naval Information Center Warfare (NIWC) contributed generous prize donations. The competition provided participants with valuable skills and emphasized not only technical skills but also the importance of collaboration, time management, and adaptability.

Faculty members noted how impressive the students were in their programming abilities and in how well they worked together to solve complex problems.

“The competition was a fantastic opportunity for our students to develop their technical abilities and to collaborate with their peers. We look forward to hosting even more of these events in the future, where students can continue to challenge themselves and grow. Overall, the Coding Competition was a tremendous success, celebrating the bright future of software development and teamwork among the next generation of programmers,” Small said.

Small anticipates making the competition an annual event.

“We’ve done the competitions in the past prior to the most recent one but have not been consistent each year. We do, however, anticipate adding it to our annual calendar.”

Navy center partners with TCC to provide STEM camp for youth

Tidewater Community College worked with community partner Naval Information Warfare Center (NIWC) to host a weeklong summer camp for youth, ages 11-15, from high schools across Hampton Roads.

Held July 17-21, the purpose of the camp was to foster a passion for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) in students and to showcase careers in these fields. Students also learned important lessons from guest speakers and completed hands-on activities throughout the week.

TCC Dean Nancy Prather-Johnson welcomed students and shared about her journey. “As I was growing up, I was considered part of the underrepresented population and underprivileged community. It was summer programs like this one that exposed me to STEM careers at a young age,” she said.

She continued, “I attended a math and science-specific high school for students who were high achievers in the subjects. Although I didn’t continue my pursuit of becoming a computer science engineer, I am now the dean of Computer Science and Business at a community college and that gives me the opportunity to pay it forward and expose kids like me to these growing fields.”

NIWC STEM Lead, Shawn Frazier, believes the partnership with TCC will greatly benefit the youth attending camp. He enjoys hosting it on campus in order to help the students visualize their futures in college and see themselves pursuing their dream careers. He says, “I want to help students to see themselves as that scientist, engineer, mathematician, or whatever it is they want to do. TCC has been a great partner to help me do that.”

This camp provides students the opportunity to participate in interactive projects such as creating and launching their own rockets, as well as coding on a Raspberry Pi computer, which is the technology that is used on the International Space Station.

The program allows campers to experience STEM in a way that differs from what they learn in school. In addition to the opportunity to grow their STEM knowledge, this camp creates a sense of community for STEM students in the Hampton Roads area. Jorden, a camp student, said, “One of my favorite things about camp has been making friends that have the same interests as me.”

Camp instructor, Daron Moore, has been with the NIWC STEM Camp program since it started 12 years ago. He says, “It’s incredibly fulfilling to be able to plant the STEM seeds in children’s minds and see where it takes them. You get to see them years later achieving their childhood dreams that began at camp.”

For more information regarding future summer camps, contact Prather-Johnson at nprather@tcc.edu.