Page 36 - EngineerIT December 2022

NEWS DIGEST

TOP FUTURE PROGRAMMERS SHINE AT 2022

PROGRAMMING OLYMPIAD AWARDS

he South African Computer in the Programming Olympiad finals. In 2021, Benjamin received an honourable mention
Olympiad (SACO) and the Institute in the national Programming Olympiad finals, and was selected as a member of team
Tof Information Technology South Africa at the IOI 2022.
Professionals (IITPSA) have announced Minkyum Kim, a Grade 11 learner from Reddam House Durbanville in the Western
the winners for the 2022 national Cape, won a silver medal in this year’s Programming Olympiad finals. In 2021, Minkyum
Programming Olympiad, a challenge won the gold medal and Standard Bank trophy in the Programming Olympiad finals, and
for high school learners who can use a he was also selected to represent South Africa at the 2022 IOI, where he was awarded a
computer programming language. bronze medal.
The South African Computer Silver was awarded to Emmanuel Rassou, a Grade 12 learner from SA College School
Olympiad, an initiative of the Institute in the Western Cape. Emmanuel was the 2021 Western Cape provincial Programming
of Information Technology Professionals Olympiad winner; he was awarded a bronze medal in the 2021 Programming Olympiad
South Africa (IITPSA), presented finals, and was selected as a member of the South African team for IOI 2022.
the Programming Olympiad with This year’s Programming Olympiad bronze medallists were Tengjun Liu, a Grade 12
the support of the Internet Service learner at the American International School of Cape Town; Fei Xiang Peng (also known
Providers’ Association (ISPA), South as Darren Peng), a Grade 12 learner at St John’s College in Gauteng; and Youkyum Kim, a
Africa’s recognised internet industry Grade 9 learner at Reddam House Durbanville in the Western Cape.
representative body. IITPSA president Admire Gwanzura congratulated this year’s winners, noting: “It
The South African Computer is encouraging to see how many young people find the experience and exposure they
Olympiads aim to identify, encourage and gain from the Olympiads worth coming back for. Some of our young achievers appear to
reward computer aptitude, and promote be carving out career paths for themselves before they have even finished school. We
computer studies. The Olympiads reach hope to see more South African learners participating in the South African Olympiads
thousands of local youths each year, in the future, so that they too can start getting to grips with IT skills and possibly begin
through the Talent Search, Programming establishing themselves in the market as emerging IT professionals worth investing in.”
Olympiad and Applications Olympiad.
The Programming Olympiad
sees learners participating in three
competitive rounds, with top performers
from around the country taking part. In
the first round, the participants aim to
solve a number of problems using the
programming language of their choice.
However, for the second round and final
round, the languages are more restricted.
The Programming Olympiad finals were
held at the UCT Upper Campus Computer
Sciences Lab, in Cape Town on 8 and 9
October and the finals awards lunch was
held on 10 October 2022.
A number of repeat stars shone at
the finals of this year’s Programming
Olympiad, having excelled in
previous Computing Olympiads and
represented South Africa at this year’s
International Olympiad in Informatics
(IOI) in Indonesia, where 88 countries 2022 IITPSA Computer Programming Olympiad medalists. Standing: L-R are bronze medallists
participated. Tengjun Liu, Fei Xiang Peng (also known as Darren Peng) and Youkyum Kim. Seated: L-R are
Benjamin Kleyn, a Grade 12 learner Emmanuel Rassou from SA College School (silver medal winner), Benjamin Kleyn from Parel Vallei
from Parel Vallei High in the Western High (gold medallist and 2022 IITPSA Programming Olympiad winner) and Minkyum Kim from
Reddam House Durbanville (silver medal winner, winner of the 2021 IITPSA Programming Olympiad
Cape, was this year’s gold medal winner and a bronze medallist at IOI 2022)

EngineerIT | December 2022 | 36