Computer science duo code their way to first place in regional programming contest

A pair of Commonwealth University–Bloomsburg computer science students won the CCSC Eastern Collegiate Programming Contest this fall, solving six out of eight programming problems in under four hours to lock up the top spot.

Ryan Hricenak and Stephanie Flores teamed up as the "Bloomsburg Bombers" to compete against 34 teams from across Pennsylvania, including Villanova and West Chester universities.

“The competition gave us a packet of problems that we had to solve using Java,” Hricenak said. “Teams had less than four hours to write programs that matched the required input and output exactly. We were able to solve six of the eight problems, which put us at the top. Preparation played a big role.”

The two spent time reviewing past CCSC problems and building strategies for how they’d approach new ones. Flores said she created notes from previous years’ questions and practiced writing solutions on her own.

“CCSC allowed us to bring handwritten notes and textbooks,” she said. “My strategy was to review old questions and build a foundation for how this year would be structured.”

For Flores, a digital forensics and cybersecurity major with a minor in computer science, the competition pushed her outside her comfort zone.

“My biggest challenge was my inexperience with programming,” Flores said. “Coding isn’t the main part of my curriculum, and with ADHD, it takes me longer to grasp complex concepts. But Ryan explained things in a way that matched my learning style. He’s become a mentor to me.”

She also carried personal concerns into the competition.

“Being a first-generation Latina woman in STEM, I felt like I didn’t belong,” Flores said. “There were only a handful of women there. But the ACM Club at Bloomsburg made me feel supported, and that gave me the confidence to keep going.”

The pair credits Bloomsburg’s computer science program with preparing them to succeed.

“Dr. Rodriguez, our club advisor, was essential to our victory,” Hricenak said. “His data structures class gave us the foundation we needed. Dr. Abumurad’s algorithms class taught me how to make our solutions more efficient, and Dr. Coles’ programming courses built the fundamentals.”

Flores echoed this.

“My Java and Python classes taught me how to think critically about coding,” she said. “And Professor Rodriguez helped us go through past CCSC solutions, which made us faster during the competition.”

Inside the event, their teamwork made all the difference.

“I was responsible for programming the solutions,” Hricenak said. “Stephanie walked through the problem statements, helped catch typos or errors, and kept us organized.”

For Flores, the collaboration came naturally.

“Ryan brought his laptop and handled the coding,” Flores said. “I focused on learning, checking errors, and applying what I knew. We were already friends through ACM, so we felt comfortable working together.”

When the awards were announced, the team didn’t know where they stood.

“During the last hour, the scoreboard freezes,” Flores said. “So, when they called the placements, we were completely in the dark. Hearing our names called for first place was surreal.”

Hricenak agreed, “It felt amazing to hear we won first place. All our hard work paid off.”

Looking back, the experience became a meaningful part of their college journey.

“Competitions like this let us use what we’ve learned in a fun environment,” Hricenak said. “It also helps build your résumé.”

Flores added that it helped her grow personally.

“It taught me to step outside my comfort zone, make connections, and learn from others,” she said. “It showed me that I belong in this field.”

Both students already have strong goals for the future.

“After graduation, I hope to work as a software engineer,” said Hricenak, while Flores hopes to blend her major and minor into a role focused on cybersecurity. “My goal is to be a security software engineer. I want to use everything I’ve learned.”

For students thinking about competing next year, the message is simple.

“Do it,” said Hricenak. “College goes fast, try everything that interests you.”

Flores offered encouragement for students who may feel hesitant.

“Start early, gain experience, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes,” she said. “Everyone is learning. Believe in yourself and keep building toward your goals.”