Why do I do it?

I have been involved in programming contests at the UofAlberta since
1997 because of a lucky coincidence and Howard Cheng, an outstanding
student here at that time.  I have enjoyed every minute spent on
preparing and running the frequent practice contests that we have (in
close cooperation with Gordon Cormack from Waterloo).  I am mad at
myself that I have not started doing it earlier. I would say that
about half of my entire working time is spent on programming contest
related issues, which are not entirely recognized by the University as
an academic effort.  Then: why do I do it?

I am dismayed by the watering down of the curriculum at CS departments
which does not push the students to their intellectual limits.  This
wastes a lot of talented people who, under these conditions, have no
chance to discover how talented and capable they really are.  The
programming contests attract a substantial fraction of the most
talented students that we have; I enjoy working with them and they
seem to enjoy doing it too.

The Heavenly Father, with his unique sense of humor, has distributed
the mental talents in a rather unpredictable way.  It is our role to
discover these talents and make them shine.  If we do not do it, then
we--the educators--will end up in Hell.  And I would rather not get
there just for this one reason.