{"id":1722,"date":"2015-03-08T13:28:27","date_gmt":"2015-03-08T18:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thechristys.net\/?p=1722"},"modified":"2015-03-09T12:28:11","modified_gmt":"2015-03-09T17:28:11","slug":"hp-codewars","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thechristys.net\/?p=1722","title":{"rendered":"HP CodeWars"},"content":{"rendered":"

Linda and I just attended the HP CodeWars event in Houston on March 7th.\u00a0 It was a truly impressive event.\u00a0 This program got started at the Compaq campus in Houston in 1998.\u00a0 It has grown to 8 HP sites around the world.\u00a0 \"image\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It is an open 1 day competition for high school students.\u00a0 They are given around 20 problems that must be solved using Java programming.\u00a0 Kids compete on teams of 1,2 or 3 students.\u00a0 Each question is assigned a point value based on it\u2019s difficulty.\u00a0 There are Advanced and Novice divisions.\u00a0 Both groups are given the same problems.\u00a0 The solutions are submitted to the judges electronically who test the programs and assign points.<\/p>\n

If you would like to see the questions and rules the students used at this event click here<\/a><\/p>\n

There appeared to be about\u00a0700 students at the 2015 Houston event.\u00a0 Most teams were from Texas but some groups came from as far away as Florida (who came in 2nd this year).\u00a0 Teams came in school busses, multi-vehicle caravans and in the back of mom\u2019s minivan.\u00a0 Having a team name and identity was part of the fun.\u00a0 Plenty of kids went all out and dressed up.\u00a0 I saw Harry Potter and his friends, a Wookie, Dorothy and her pals and of course team Chef Boyardee who were \u201ccooking up a win\u201d.\u00a0 The top team came from Clements High School in Fort Bend ISD.\u00a0 Other winners can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

HP was a gracious sponsor of the event.\u00a0 They provided breakfast, lunch, drinks, posters, tee shirts and a backpack filled with goodies to all the students. \u00a0They also gave away some really nice computers with a raffle. \u00a0The logistics of such a large event were also expertly handled.<\/p>\n

The value of programs like these are many;<\/p>\n