Category Archives: awards and recognition

2014 Master the Mainframe Contest – Wall of Fame

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IBM’s Master the Mainframe Contest is a rigorous academic contest that involves learning mainframe technologies.  The contest takes place in three parts – with each part getting significantly more difficult.  It is difficult to finish Part 2 of the contest and extremely difficult to finish Part 3.

During last year’s contest, RMU had 18 students complete both Parts 1 and 2, which is a tremendous accomplishment!  Three of those students went on to complete Part 3, the most rigorous part of the contest.  To put this amazing accomplishment into perspective, only 50 students received Part 3 Honorable Mentions for completing Part 3, out of 4,900 participants.

Out of 4,900 competitors in the U.S. and Canada, RMU had the following results (see here for complete contest results):

  • Part 3 Honorable Mentions:  3 of 50 Part 3 Honorable Mentions
  • Part 2 Finishers: 18 of 313 Part 2 Finishers

We are proud to announce the following RMU winners for 2014:

RMU Part 3 Honorable Mentions

  • David Conley
  • Torrie McLaughlin
  • Daniel Owiti

RMU Part 2 Finishers 

  • Ahmad Aljuryyed
  • Timothy Brown
  • Ashley Cain
  • David Conley
  • John Dummer
  • David Harouse
  • Kevin Kalan
  • Monica Kodali
  • Kory Kozlowski
  • Anthony Kupchick
  • Joan Lewis
  • John Marcavage
  • Torrie McLaughlin
  • Daniel Owiti
  • Samantha Reitz
  • Melissa Roman
  • Trapp Thompson
  • Brandon Zink

David Conley, one of the Part 3 Honorable Mention winners, described the experience as a positive one, saying, “Part 3 of the contest involved sorting files by use of JCL commands, access to a DB2 database, and the creation of reports using data contained in that database.  All are skills that will compliment what is learned in class , look good on a resume, and provide confidence in your new abilities.”  David is a graduate student in the MS Information Systems Management program.

Torrie McLaughlin, another of the Part 3 Honorable Mention winners, had the following advice for other students, “I entered the contest because I thought it would be fun, and I enjoy games that test my intelligence. I would definitely recommend the contest for CIS majors of any type, not just Mainframe specific. It was lots of fun and a great experience.” Torrie is a student in the Integrated Bachelor/Masters program working toward an BS in Information Sciences and an MS in Competitive Intelligence Systems.

Daniel Owiti, the final of the Part 3 Honorable Mention winners, had much to share about his positive experience with the contest.  He says, “When I joined Robert Morris University in 2012, a couple of my professors, in particular Dr. Kovacs, evangelized the growth and potential of IBM Mainframes and the increasing demand for Mainframe professionals. Despite having a misplaced notion of Mainframe being an old technology, my curiosity got the better of me and I enrolled in two enterprise classes in the Spring of 2014.”

He continues, “When asked to enter the IBM Master The Mainframe Contest, my first reaction was, ‘Will I have the time and energy to go through the rigors while working full time, attending classes and spare time for my family?’  But the constant encouragement of one Professor, Packy [Dr. Packy Laverty], led me to enter the ring and see what this contest was made of. My biggest motivation was just gaining knowledge rather than completing the contest. But once started all I said was ‘Aha!.. This is doable’ with each and every step I completed.  Dr. Zeanchock’s very structured and easy to follow class helped a lot.  I am very glad I took the contest and went on to be a Part 2 Finisher and a Part 3 Wall of Famer. Part 3 was most challenging but also the most practical and interesting to work on a real world business application.  I would highly encourage students and anybody with a tech-curiosity to take part.  I look forward to pursuing a career in IBM zEnterprise.”  Daniel is a graduate student pursuing an MS in Internet Information Systems.

We are extremely proud of all of our students for their achievements in this contest and hope that even more CIS students will be interested in the contest in 2015.  Great work, everyone!

Dr. Karen Paullet receives Faculty Distinguished Service Award for 2013-14

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IMG_8701We are proud to announce that Dr. Karen Paullet, Assistant Professor of Computer and Information Systems, is the recipient of this year’s Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for Service to RMU in 2013-14!

Dr. Paullet was recognized for her exceptional work in serving the University and our students in engaged learning.  In 2013-14, Dr. Paullet formed and served as advisor to the student organization Top Secret Colonials, one of the most visible and successful student groups to organize in many years at RMU.  She organized the Top Secret Colonials and other CIS students, for two years in a row, to participate in the Washington Center’s National Security academic seminar that focuses on cyber security.  She led fundraising activities, helped the students prepare resumes, coached their presentations, and prepared them for the top-level encounters with government officials that are part of the academic seminar.  Her efforts were instrumental in RMU’s being named the Washington Center’s Academic Seminar Institution of the Year in 2014.

In addition, Dr. Paullet served the University by her frequent presentations to government, corporate, and non-profit groups on cyber forensics and information security, and by her extensive recruiting efforts aimed at high school students.

Congratulations, Dr. Paullet!

 

The Washington Center names RMU Academic Seminar University of the Year

Robert Morris University has been named the 2014 Academic Seminar University of the Year by the prestigious Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars.

Recently, a group of thirty-two RMU cyber forensics and information security students traveled to Washington, D.C. to participate in The Washington Center’s academic seminar program. The seminar was based on issues of National Security and gave the students an opportunity to learn from leading national security experts. As well as this being an excellent learning opportunity, this served as an opportunity for networking with national security leaders.

nationalsecurityseminar

The Washington Center chose Robert Morris University as its academic seminar of the year based on many factors; some factors being the Top Secret Colonials fundraising efforts, preparation for the trip, and devotion of the students and faculty regarding the seminar itself.

The students were lucky to have been at the seminar in D.C. while there was extreme information security controversy happening here in Pittsburgh, PA. The group happened to be visiting the Chinese Embassy just hours after it was announced that the U.S. government filed criminal charges of cyber espionage against Chinese officials for allegedly having hacked some of Pittsburgh’s foremost industrial providers including Alcoa, Westinghouse, and U.S. Steel.

Many students having participated in the trip have become advocates for the importance of this seminar, as well as their student-run organization, Top Secret Colonials. TSC secretary, Jake Pancari, stated, “The seminar is a life changing opportunity, something I never could have experienced by just going to class all the time. We witnessed history in the making while we were there, and I got to meet so many influential people working in DC. It’s easily one of the best decisions I’ve made in my time at RMU.”