Golden Jubilee Magazine Online: The Computer Olympiads

Computer Olympiads

The National Computer Olympiad was initiated in 1993 and is sponsored annually by IBM. The Olympiad has become a forum for the nation's most gifted students in this area to acquire and strengthen their computer programming skills as they develop practical solutions to complex problems. The competition is open to all registered secondary school students of Trinidad and Tobago. The International Olympiad in Informatics (I.O.I.) is an annual event. Six problems are to be completed in two gruelling five hour exams over the course of two days. Colin Maughn, a Presentation representative in the Netherlands in 1995, describes the after competition experience: "After the competition the competitors stayed behind and had their programs evaluated - while they and their team leaders watched! I liked and hated this method. it was quick and convenient but far from painless, just imagine watching your teacher correct your test papers ".

Presentation College Sweeps IBM Sponsored Computer Olympiad

Computer Awards Function 1997

L-R: Mr.Errol Jaikaransingh (Vice Principal, John Pu, William Blackwell, Jack Pu, Yogishwar Maharaj)

South Africa 1997

(Girls accompanied the team but were not participants in the IOI)

Presentation College, San Fernando dominated the IBM sponsored National Computer Olympiad in 1997. Cheng-Ning "Jack" Pu and Wililam Ted Blackwell II placed first and second respectively. As a result, Presentation College, San Fernando placed first overall receiving an IBM computer for the College. These two students, in addition to Yogishwar Maharaj and Jack's brother "John" Pu (both also of Presentation College, San Fernando) were selected to represent Trinidad and Tobago that year in Johannesburg, South Africa. Thus the whole National team comprised 'Pres' Men, a remarkable achievement.

In 1996, Cheng Ning placed second in the National Computer Olympiad and made it on the team for Hungary. His less than exceptional performance spurred him on to train harder and to strive for gold. 1995 saw Cohn Maughn qualify for the International Competition held that year in the Netherlands. In that same year Ravi Ramkissoon of St. Mary's College won a Bronze medal at the 101, Trinidad's first and only medal to date.

In 1998, the Presentation team fared less favourably. Cheng Ning and William placed second and third respectively while Yogishwar placed fifth. The College placed second overall. We were beaten by St. Mary's College while Pres. Chaguanas placed third. The prospects of a Presentation sweep of the National team to the IOI to be held in Portugal in September of this year look good, and we hope that they can bring home the Gold in this our Golden Jubilee.