A UCF computer programming competition team, UCF OrElse, will join more than 50 others from colleges around the U.S. and Canada in the nation’s most prestigious computer programming contest. The teams will showcase their exceptional talents to leading employers May 22-26.
UCF’s College of Engineering and Computer Science will host the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) North America Championship. Known as the “Battle of Brains,” this annual competition challenges participants to solve complex algorithmic and logic problems by writing precise computer programs, all within a five-hour contest.
With talented students highly recruited by leading employers, UCF has a strong track record of success in the event, advancing to the world finals in 12 of the past 13 years.
UCF will host the competition, which will be in the Pegasus Ballroom in the Student Union, for the fourth consecutive year. Teams from top institutions including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and Stanford University, will showcase their technical prowess and compete for a spot among the top 16 teams who will advance to the ICPC World Finals Aug. 31- Sept. 5 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
The 2025 ICPC North America Championship (NAC) is sponsored by trading firm Jane Street, software developer JetBrains, the National Security Agency, investment manager Citadel Securities, Jump Trading, Hudson River Trading and Upsilon Pi Epsilon Honor Society, and by UCF leadership partner, Bev Seay. Sponsors will have the opportunity to meet with these future leaders throughout the week, including a career fair to showcase their offerings for employment. The NAC also offers a unique programming camp in the three days leading up to the championship. This North America Programming Camp (NAPC) provides attending teams with invaluable practice time, guided by a group of world-class trainers who have either coached world finalists or competed on the global stage themselves.
“UCF is honored to host this year’s ICPC North America Championship on our campus and welcome 52 teams from some of the most prestigious institutions across the country. We are also excited about the upcoming North America Programming Camp, bringing together the nation’s top coaches as they help teams prepare for the world finals,” says Michael Georgiopoulos, dean of the College of Engineering and Computer Science. “Participants should be proud of their accomplishments and take advantage of the opportunity to refine their skills and learn advanced strategies throughout the event. I encourage all participants to take the time to interact with each other, exchange ideas and, most importantly, have fun! Good luck to all the teams competing.”
Training at the camp will focus on techniques and topics in competitive programming that are crucial for strong performances at NAC-level contests. The day and a half of training activities will focus on the challenges of team-based ICPC contests. This includes a discussion of contest strategy and teamwork and a simulated contest.
Beyond technical expertise, the competition challenges teams to demonstrate a wide array of skills essential for success. Participants must excel in time management, maintain composure under pressure and collaborate effectively within their three-person teams — all while sharing a single computer.
“Thousands of students begin the journey to the ICPC NAC every year but only a handful will qualify,” says Antonette Logar, ICPC NAC contest director. “All of the students at the NAC have already demonstrated that they are the best of best in North America and all should be proud of their accomplishments.”
“ICPC is grateful to UCF for being such an amazing host for the North America Championship,” Logar continues. “UCF is a pillar institution for ICPC North America. The excellent training program, the contributions of UCF faculty, staff and volunteers to ICPC contests, and their support of the ICPC philosophy of providing opportunities to shine to the next generation of problem-solvers makes UCF an exemplary university in the ICPC community.”
“At UCF, our 42-year-old record of ‘top three in the southeast’ regional contests continued for another year, thanks to our excellent programming team members,” says Ali Orooji, team advisor and professor of computer science. “We have been practicing in person for about 30 Saturdays, and online in summer, in addition to readings and problem-solving exercise during the week. Students making it to world finals spend 15-20 hours a week on preparation for several years. UCF thanks these students for their dedication and hard work. Our record is matched by no other school in the region.”
The hometown team, UCF OrElse, comprises Tyler Marks ’24, who earned bachelor’s degrees from UCF in both computer science and mechanical engineering, and is now working toward his master’s in mechanical engineering; alumnus Andy Phan ’21 ’22MS, who is working on a second master’s degree from UCF in mathematical sciences; and computer science undergraduate Sachin Sivakumar. The team competed at the NAC last year, and at the North America South Division. Their coaches are Arup Guha, Chris Gouge, Glenn Martin ’92 ’95MS ’12PhD, Kyle Dencker ’08 ’16MA and Tom Phan.
Follow the excitement at nac.icpc.global/home-2025.
