Regional News • 5/9/01

WCU students receive national attention 

Students studying business computer information systems and computer science at Western Carolina University recently earned national distinction at a national collegiate conference of information technology professionals. 

Western’s Chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals claimed first place and honorable mention titles in two categories at the sixth annual National AITP Collegiate Conference, held March 29-31 in Chicago, Ill. More than 85 colleges and universities were represented at the annual gathering. 

WCU students Dominik Erlebach, Holger Hebenstreit and David Woisetschlager, all from Germany, earned a $1,500 cash award by taking first place in the “Network Design” contest. 

“To compete with 60 teams from such universities as Purdue, Texas A&M, University of Virginia and University of Mississippi, just to name a few, takes a great deal of courage, and to come out as the best takes much more than that,” said Debashish Banerjee, WCU assistant professor of business computer information systems. “Our students proved that our program is one of the best in the nation and that one does not have to leave the mountains of Western North Carolina to get a first-rate education.” 

Another WCU team, Josh Weeks of Franklin and Justin Dunn of Yadkinville, both computer science majors, received an honorable mention award in the “Java programming” contest. In each category, three cash prizes and two honorable mentions were awarded. 

“This is a great example of collaboration between the computer science program in the College of Arts and Sciences and the computer information systems program in the College of Business,” said Mark Holliday, associate professor of computer science. 

Students who attended this year were Adrian Jefferies, Brian Ulmer, David Woisetschlager, Dominik Erlebach, Holger Hebenstreit, Jason Fore, Justin Dunn, Josh Weeks, Michael McGlone, Michael Smith and Ronnie Thompson.