College Programming Team Vies With The Best in Regional Collegiate Computing Competition

On Nov. 11, 2000, Washington College's first computer programming team competed in the 25th International Collegiate Programming Contest sponsored by the Association of Computer Machinery (ACM) and IBM. Vying with 137 teams from the Mid-Atlantic region, Washington College finished 38th, tying with several schools, including Duke University, University of North Carolina, and University of Delaware.

More than two thousand teams worldwide participated in thirty regional competitions of the ACM's International Collegiate Programming Contest. During the five-hour competition, teams had to design various programs, such as a word processing grammar check and an airplane collision detection system. The contest provides college students with an opportunity to demonstrate and sharpen problem-solving and computing skills in a competitive, time-sensitive environment.

Washington College was represented by seniors Chris Klimas, an English major and computer science minor from Randallstown, Md.; Colleen Hick, a double major in mathematics and computer science from Levittown, Pa.; and Chris Lawrence, a computer science major and president of the Washington College Computer Club from of Narberth, Pa. The team's faculty advisor, Austin Lobo, assistant professor in mathematics and computer science says, "Though this is the first year Washington College has offered a computer science major, our students have emerged as motivated, knowledgeable, and our best and brightest are able to compete with peers from the top schools in the field."

Susan Stobbart Shapiro Named Alumni President

Susan Stobbart Shapiro '91 has been elected President of the Washington College Alumni Council. Ms. Shapiro is an attorney with the firm Council, Baradel, Kosmerl & Nolan, P.A., in Annapolis, Md.

Ms. Shapiro was a double major in English and business management at Washington College. After completing her bachelor's degree, she attended the Villanova University School of Law where she received her J.D. in 1994. Ms. Shapiro's practice has been devoted primarily to civil litigation, including emphases on employment law, family law and corporate law. She is active in many trade associations, including the Annapolis and Anne Arundel County Chamber of Commerce and the Marine Trades Association of Maryland, where she serves on the Board. She joined Washington College's Alumni Council in 1995 as co-president of the Annapolis chapter.

"As president of the Washington College Alumni Council, I hope to increase alumni involvement in the life of the College and to promote support of the strategic plan set in place by President Toll and the Board of Visitors and Governors," said Ms. Shapiro. "To that end, the Council recently revised its goals and strategies for the next five years. The council hopes to build on the success of the annual Alumni Birthday Toast to George Washington and the very successful 'Life After Liberal Arts' seminars, in addition to creating new traditions for the college and its alums."

Author Ray Bradbury to Speak at 2001 Commencement

Author Ray Bradbury will address Washington College's Class of 2001 at the 219th Commencement on May 20, 2001. The College will present Bradbury with an Honorary Doctor of Letters.

The best-selling author of over 500 published works including short stories, novels, plays, film and television scripts, and verse, Bradbury is best known for his works The Martian Chronicles and Fahrenheit 451. In his work, Bradbury confronts themes such as racism, censorship, nuclear proliferation, and technology's effect on human values through the medium of fantasy and science fiction. Critics credit Bradbury for having a greater moral and humanistic range than the label science fiction implies, saying his use of science fiction is mere stage setting for a deeper understanding of the enduring reality of human nature.

Born in Waukegan, Illinois, in 1920, Bradbury began writing in his youth and published his first story at age 20. He entered the professional writing life through the numerous science fiction and fantasy pulp magazines of the period and by 1947 had published his first collection of short stories, Dark Carnival. Bradbury's numerous awards include the O. Henry Award, the Benjamin Franklin Award, and the World Fantasy Award for Lifetime Achievement. Bradbury lives in Los Angeles, California.

"We are honored that Mr. Bradbury accepted our invitation to speak," said Dr. John Toll, president of Washington College. "His long record of literary achievement will be an inspiration to our students."

For more information on the life and work of Ray Bradbury, visit:http://www.brookingsbook.com/bradbury/index.htm