Seventy-two students enrolled at Stephen F. Austin State University competed last month in the 41st annual Computer Science Programming Contest. Twenty-one teams consisting of three or four members were split among novice and expert categories and tasked with solving 10 problems each. Members of the novice and expert teams that solved the most problems received $25 gift cards. The 2016 competition was sponsored by Elliott Electric Supply. During last year's competition, 49 students participated. "The competition's purpose is to promote camaraderie through friendly competition; to provide an opportunity to meet and socialize with others having similar interests; and to give students a learning opportunity, and a chance for 'bragging rights' and prizes," said Dr. Michael Pickard, professor and chair of SFA's Department of Computer Science.