BVU Computer Science Students Sweep Top Honors at Prestigious Regional Symposium
Buena Vista University’s computer science program earned both first and second place at the 2025 Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium, outperforming 34 teams from across the Upper Midwest.
Buena Vista University’s computer science program recently demonstrated its strength on a major regional stage, earning both first and second place at the highly competitive Midwest Instruction and Computing Symposium (MICS) this past April. This premier academic conference celebrates excellence in computer science education and innovation across the
Upper Midwest. Held in Minneapolis, the event brought together 34 teams from top colleges and universities in Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and South Dakota.
While most institutions entered one to three teams, BVU distinguished itself by entering six. This was the most of any participating school. Following a rigorous three-hour programming competition, BVU swept the top two positions. Both the winning and runner-up teams solved an impressive seven out of nine complex problems; a feat rarely achieved in the competition’s history.
“The competition was intense, with so many teams packed into one room,” said Daniele Renteria, a senior from Storm Lake, Iowa. “You could really feel the energy, especially toward the end, when cheers broke out as teams solved problems.”
Sota Usui, a senior from Tokyo, Japan, added, “We practiced a lot for the contest, and I knew we had a good chance of doing well. I was surprised and happy to see us win it all.” Faculty members Dr. Jason Shepherd, Dr. Nathan Backman, and Dr. Shawn Stone accompanied the students and celebrated their impressive showing.
“This is a heck of a milestone for our program,” said Dr. Shepherd, professor of computer science. “It’s one of those things we can point to and say, ‘Look, we’re the best.’ I often tell prospective students that our computer science program is the best undergraduate program in the Upper Midwest. I justify that claim by sharing the distinctive opportunities in our curriculum, our facilities, and our very unique and impressive outcomes.”
Those opportunities include the BVU CompSci Scholarship Program, which covers full tuition for selected students. Starting in their sophomore year, students can also engage in paid, hands-on fellowships that provide valuable real-world experience while helping to cover expenses like housing and meals.
This achievement reflects the growing momentum of BVU’s computer science program, where strong academics, meaningful hands-on learning, and generous support work together to prepare students to lead and adapt in a rapidly evolving tech landscape.