Centre computer science students snare jobs, internships and grad school positions

DANVILLE, KY—Students graduating from the computer science program at Centre College have been successful in finding graduate school positions and jobs in their field, according to information recently published in a newsletter by Christine Shannon, Haggin Professor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Centre.

"We are a small program," says Shannon, "but we turn out some very successful alumni.  Over the years, Exstream Software and Lexmark, both Lexington companies, and Humana in Louisville have all hired three or more of our graduates. We like to think that it's because learning computer science in a liberal arts setting not only gives students a sound technical background and excellent communication skills, but also prepares them to continue learning throughout their careers. "

The 2005 Computer Science Prize was awarded to Ian Kaster of Louisville at the Honors Convocation held in Newlin Hall on May 2, 2006. A double major in computer science and chemistry, Kaster was involved with several independent study projects, working with both Jennifer Muzyka, associate professor of chemistry, and Joseph Oldham, assistant professor of computer science. One project, called ChemServe,  developed with fellow senior Luke Hatcher, involved taking data produced by chemistry equipment and storing it on a public server where it could be accessed through the ChemServe Website. There, students can analyze and manipulate their data at a later time so that others can use the equipment in lab.

Graduating computer science majors are moving on to promising careers. Craig Dunworth of Gray, Tenn. has accepted a sales position with a software firm in Piney Flats, Tenn., working on software for Register of Deeds and County Clerks' offices. Spencer Clark of Georgetown, Ky. is a systems analyst for Fruit of the Loom in Charleston, S.C. Luke Hatcher of Glasgow, Ky. will remain at Centre where he is employed in the IT department as a technician. Kaster will be working at The Jockey Club in Lexington, Ky., where he will be a software developer. Michael Pangallo of Cold Spring, Ky., is working as a diagnostic consultant in Cincinnati for ACNielsen BASES, using both his statistics and computing skills.

Other computer science graduates are pursuing further educational opportunities. Stephen Calender of the Woodlands, Tex. has been accepted to the Master's program in interactive technology at Carnegie Mellon University. Another May graduate, Ryan Gardner of White House, Tenn., has been accepted with a partial scholarship at the Rochester Institute of Technology as well as at the University of Pennsylvania.
 
As for the undergraduates, several have internships and research positions for the summer. Anthony Lippert, a rising senior from Harrodsburg, Ky., is working on a summer project entitled CellView with Visiting Professor of Computer Science and Mathematics Michael Bradshaw which involves using the software package Blender3D to visualize three-dimensional biological cells. Jackie Soenneker, a rising junior from Clarkson, Ky., will spend an additional month this summer working with Professor Shannon on the robotics project with which they were involved last spring. Rising junior Brian Dougherty of Hopkinsville, Ky., has been hired as a summer intern by Centre alum Andy Lowe '97 to develop web based applications for his family business in Louisville. 

The most recent computer science newsletter is available in its entirety at http://web.centre.edu/csc.   

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Founded in 1819, Centre College is ranked among the U.S. News top 50 national liberal arts colleges. Centre alumni, known for their nation-leading loyalty in annual financial support, include two U.S. vice presidents and two Supreme Court justices. For more, visit http://www.centre.edu/web/elevatorspeech/

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