Computer Science Newsletter
October 2006
Computer Science Newsletter
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Proving that it can go home again, the department is switching from Java to C++ this fall as the primary teaching language in the curriculum. Faculty recognized the strengths of Java, but also its many weaknesses. In the end, we decided that the advantages of using the industrial-strength, standardized, real-world language C++ were more important than the relative ease and simplicity of Java.
The return to C++ marks the fourth time the department has changed its major teaching language. Fortran was the primary language when the computer science program began. We changed to Pascal, then to C++, and subsequently to Java. Now we are returning to C++. We’ll still be using Java in a couple of courses, but it will no longer be the language used in the introductory computer science major courses.
Dr. Merry Lewis Allen, the long-time chair of the Mathematics and Computer Science Department, died on July 21. She was chair for 20 years, from 1972 to 1992. During that time she oversaw the planning and implementation of Longwood’s computer science program, culminating in the first class of majors in 1992.
Many of you will remember Dr. Allen’s calm, patient manner and her dry sense of humor. Perhaps her greatest accomplishment was setting the tone of the department as one of excellence, but also of tolerance and respect for others. When conflicts arose, as they inevitably did among such strong personalities in the faculty and students, she made sure that the arguments never became petty or personal. A new faculty member remarked soon after arriving that he could not believe how well we all got along. That was due in no small measure to Dr. Allen.
Dr. Allen lived in Charlottesville after her retirement and delighted in traveling extensively.
The family suggests that any desired memorial contributions be made to the Merry Lewis Allen Scholarship Fund, Longwood University Foundation.
Two teams of Longwood students participating in the 2006 COMAP (The Consortium for Mathematics and Its Applications) modeling competition, which challenges teams of students to clarify, analyze, and propose solutions to open-ended problems. The contest attracts diverse students and faculty advisors from over 500 institutions around the world. Directed by Dr. Leigh Lunsford, Assistant Professor of Mathematics, Team Epsilon (John Burton (Senior - Math), Zach Johnson (Junior - Math), Lindsay Robson (Senior - Math) achieved Honorable Mention and Team Delta (Thomas Fields (Senior - Math & Physics), Brian Meckstroth (Senior – Computer Science), Michael Souza (Freshman – Computer Science) was judged to be a Successful Participant.
Participation in the contest requires a weekend of dedication to solving a difficult open-ended mathematics or interdisciplinary modeling problem. For more information about COMAP, go to http://www.comap.com/undergraduate/contests/
We welcome the following computer science graduates.
Russell J. Brown Hans J. Bruesch-Olsen Jeremy C. Cannon John R. Del Corso Daniel A. Dougherty Nathaniel C. Grant Keith H. Krehely Brian D. Meckstroth Keir J. Mussen Bethany J. Rababy Jonathan L. Regeimbal Daniel T. Reynolds Jamie L. Shumaker
Longwood senior computer science majors scored on the aggregate in the top 25th percentile nationwide on the 2005 Major Field Achievement Test (MFAT). This is a major specific, nationally normed test taken by graduating seniors in colleges and universities all over the country. It provides a way to compare programs at different institutions. Our students' MFAT scores indicate that we are both in the mainstream of computer science education and that our students are learning what they need to know to succeed both in industry and in graduate school.
Longwood sent two teams under the direction of Dr. John Graham, Assistant Professor of Computer Science, to the annual Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) Mid-Atlantic Regional Programming Competition at the University of Virginia. Over 150 teams competed and every major university was represented.
The teams got five hours to solve eight problems. In the Mid-Atlantic regional, 40 teams (including both teams from Longwood) did not complete any problems, and 40 more completed only one problem. The average completion for all the teams was less than one. The University of Maryland at College Park was the winner and the only team to complete as many as six problems.
While we are disappointed by the final result, the students see an opportunity to improve and are looking forward to next year. The students who participated were Petr Tchtchjenko, Michael Souza, Brian Meckstroth, and Nathan Welch.
Sharif Ghazzawi (2003) works for Mitre Corporation. Four Longwood graduates who work at the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Dahlgren, Tony Moss (1990), Justin Bunch, Steven Tsai (2001), and David McWee (2002), have received the Award of Merit for Group Achievement from the United States Navy for their work on the Aegis radar system. Dave Hooper (2000) is Longwood's webmaster. Check out his work at www.longwood.edu and www.whylongwood.com
Tommy Franks (1999) is the pastor of a church in Crewe, Virginia. He worked for IBM before becoming a minister. Kent Toms (1994) is a Management Information Systems Project Manager for Circuit City. Matt Morgan (1989) works at SimVentions in Fredericksburg, doing modeling and simulation work as well as design and code work. Jeff Sledjeski (1987) is Vice President of Sol-Tech in Chantilly, Virginia.
We need news from more alumni. Please send news to Dr. Webber (email webberrp@longwood.edu), and we'll put it in the next newsletter.
You can help our computer science program by making a financial contribution. We need money for equipment, for undergraduate research, and to fund such things as student travel to programming contests. Please make a contribution to Longwood’s annual giving fund, and designate your contribution to Computer Science if you wish, or to the Merry Lewis Allen Scholarship Fund.
Making a contribution is a way you can help your school and get a tax deduction, too. Make your check payable to Longwood Foundation and write your designation in the memo field. Send your contribution to
The
Longwood University Foundation
Longwood University
201 High
Street
Farmville, VA 23909
For more information, alumni news, etc., contact
Dr.
Robert P. Webber
Math and Computer Science Department
Longwood
University
Farmville, VA 23909
Phone (804)395-2192
Fax
(804)395-2865
E-mail webberrp@longwood.edu
Send your news to Dr. Robert Webber at rwebber@longwood.edu and we’ll put it in the next newsletter.
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