Arizona State University’s competitive programming team is preparing to compete in the International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC) World Finals, which will be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from August 31 to September 5. The team, supported by the School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences in The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence at the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, recently placed 12th at the ICPC North America Championship.
The university had not fielded an ICPC team for over a decade until students Sahaj Rastogi, Benjamin Jeter, and Theodore Gossett revived it. Rastogi is an undergraduate computer science student with experience in competitive programming. Jeter studies mathematics as an undergraduate and has a background as a high school mathlete. Gossett is pursuing a doctorate in mathematics.
For five months, the trio prepared for competitions by dedicating more than 15 hours each week to practice sessions and participating in local and regional events. They also attended a training camp at Columbia University and competed at Rutgers University.
Assistant Professor Zilin Jiang served as faculty sponsor and coach for the team. Jiang holds appointments in both supporting schools and was recognized with the 2024 Delbert Ray Fulkerson Prize for contributions to discrete mathematics. He encourages students to join problem-solving clubs for collaboration beyond classroom learning.
The team’s first major event was the Rocky Mountain regional competition last November at Brigham Young University in Utah, where they placed fourth among teams from eight U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. This result qualified them for further rounds.
In May, they traveled to Orlando for the ICPC North America Championship. During this event, which featured 52 teams from across North America competing for spots at world finals, ASU finished just behind Harvard University to qualify for Baku.
“The ICPC has a culture of generosity and friendliness,” said Rastogi about their experience networking with other teams during competitions. “Even after the contest ended, we were still discussing solutions to the problems with other teams just because we find it inherently interesting and love to talk about it with other people who share the same interests.”
“I’m so proud,” said Jiang regarding his students’ progress. “The team members can be pretty hard on themselves from time to time, but they shouldn’t be. They should really celebrate these fantastic results.”
Donatella Danielli, Foundation Professor and director of ASU’s School of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences—which provides financial support—highlighted how programming competitions bridge disciplines: “Competitive programming is a natural extension of mathematical thinking,” she said. “It challenges students to think critically, apply logical reasoning and develop creative solutions under pressure — all skills that are deeply rooted in mathematics and essential for success.”
Ross Maciejewski, director of the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, commented on mentorship: “Zilin’s dedication to student mentorship and experiential learning is truly inspiring,” he said. “His ability to create spaces where students not only excel academically but also grow as individuals is a testament to the kind of student-centered education we strive for in the Fulton Schools.”
Looking ahead, Assistant Professor Zilin Jiang will offer CSE 598: Introduction to Competitive Programming starting spring 2026; this course will be open even to those without prior coding experience.
Arizona State University continues its efforts toward innovation across multiple areas; it was named number one in innovation by U.S. News & World Report for eight consecutive years according to the publication.
