‘The Memory Dump’ wins Digi-Key Collegiate Computing Competition
THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. – Minot State's computer science team called "The Memory Dump" captured first place at the annual Digi-Key Collegiate Computing Competition VERSION 2.0.22 (DKC3) Friday, Oct. 21 at Thief River Falls, Minnesota.
The team was comprised of students Ross Hardy, Yongmin Kim, Keegan Summers, and Long Nguyen.
“We are lucky to have a really strong group of students this year,” said Darren Seifert, associate professor in math and computer science. “They've worked really hard improving their Python programming skills and spent a number of hours working through practice problems this year. It's been fun to watch them grow in their abilities and then succeed like this.”
The win at DKC3 in 2022 follows a second-place finish in 2021 and is the second win for MSU in the past seven years. Teams from all across the upper Midwest compete including North Dakota State University and the University of North Dakota, multiple Minnesota schools, Dakota State University in South Dakota, and the University of Wisconsin-Stout in Wisconsin. Competitors must be junior or senior undergraduate students majoring in computer science or a related field.
“The event was great. Last year the competition was online, so it was really eye opening to get to see the Digi-Key's facilities and experience the competition in person,” Nguyen said. “It was more intense being in same room with all the other teams, but I knew we had a strong team and I'm proud that we pulled it off.”
The competition includes three main events - two programming sessions and one word problem session - to select the top three places vying for over $12,000 in prizes. Minot State earned $5,000 cash prize for the department, an individual cash prize of $300, and the coveted Bronze Traveling Trophy.
“The Digi-Key competition was all around a good experience, it was definitely nice to be able to go in person this year and tour their facility,” Summers added. “The atmosphere of being in a room with all the other teams made it feel more like a competition than it did when it was online last year. The questions this year were harder, but our team practiced a lot, and it helped us in the end.”
For more information on the event and to view past winners, see the DKC3 WEBSITE.
ABOUT DIGI-KEY ELECTRONICS
Headquartered in Thief River Falls, Digi-Key Electronics is recognized as both the leader and continuous innovator in the high service distribution of electronic components and automation products worldwide. Founded in 1972, Digi-Key was a pioneer in the mail-order catalog business and a key resource for design engineers. Today, Digi-Key offers the world’s largest selection of electronic components in stock and available for immediate shipment. Beyond the products that drive technology innovation, Digi-Key also supports design engineers and procurement professionals with a wealth of digital solutions and tools to make their jobs more efficient.
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
Published: 10/28/22
