NEWS RELEASE

Contact: David West (west@nsula.edu )
News Bureau
Northwestern State University
Natchitoches, LA 71497
(318) 357-6466

3/21/2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NATCHITOCHES-More than 30 computer information systems from Northwestern State University will participate in the Eighth Annual AITP (Association of Information Technology Professionals) Collegiate Conference March 27-29 at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind.

Northwestern has won national competitions in systems analysis the past two years and also won the banner and student paper competition in 2001.

This is the fourth year students from Northwestern have participated in programming competitions. NSU students have placed at all 10 competitions they have taken part in.

"The competition lets me take something I have studied in class and apply it," said Josh Spillers, a senior computer information systems major from Minden. "It helps me maintain an interest in a programming language or area of study. I may have studied something two or three semesters ago and this helps me recall it."

Spillers, who is president of Northwestern's student AITP chapter says Northwestern's success at national competition is reflective of the work done by its faculty.

"We have an excellent group of faculty," said Spillers. "They have restructured the program and relate what we learn in class to real life situations."

Faculty members Lissa Pollacia, Jack Russell, Barbara Russell and David Zolzer have helped the students get ready for the competition. The faculty responded to student requests and set up extra study sessions to help them prepare for competitions.

"We are excited about this opportunity and want to help the students be as successful as possible," said instructor of computer information systems Barbara Russell. "We want to help our students make the right contacts and be able to move into a professional position. This type of competition can help them.

"Northwestern has an unusual situation. Many universities have faculty focused on research. We have an unique group of people who are concerned with helping the students get out and receive a good job."

Northwestern students have gained jobs and are recruited by major companies including State Farm, Wal-Mart, JCPenney, Lowe's and more as the program's reputation spreads.

The students in the AITP competition reflect well on the entire College of Business at NSU, according to dean of business Dr. Joel Worley.

"We are proud of what they have done and they have our full support," said Worley. "Their success can also be attributed to good preparation by business faculty in accounting, statistics, finance and other areas along with faculty in other disciplines such as speech."

Two students, Kelli Fontana of Natchitoches and Kirsten Allen of Atlanta, La., were among 10 students notified in advance of the conference that they would compete in the Student Paper Competition. Fontana and Allen will make a presentation at the conference which will be judged on content and quality of presentation using programs including PowerPoint.

NSU had a strong performance in the recent Tarleton Programming Contest and Symposium in Stephenville, Texas. The team of Nick Hammonds of Goldonna and Curtis Penrod of Robeline placed first in COBOL while Tina Mouton of Lafayette and Deran Schilling of Dayton, Texas were first in Web development.

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