Moving the Needle: Bringing Diversity to the Winter Classic Student Cluster Competition

By Cristin Merritt and Dominik Wojtak

January 31, 2024

Cristin Merritt, CMO of Alces Flight, shares with HPCwire a discussion with Dan Olds, Chief Research Officer of Intersect360 Research, about how his novel idea for a Student Cluster Competition targeted at historically black and Hispanic colleges in the US came into being and continues to thrive. Part of the Move the Needle Project for 2024. Additional Reporting by Dominik Wojtak.

When Dan Olds launched the Winter Classic Invitational Student Cluster Competition, he had two goals:

  1. Attract young new talent from diverse communities into HPC and
  2. Provide them with real, hands-on experience with systems and applications.

His aim? Motivate and inspire these highly talented self-starters while qualifying them for internships and full-time positions within supercomputing. In addition, Dan recently covered the South African CHPC 2024 National Cluster Competition for HPCwire.

Creating Equality in Opportunity

One of the pivotal changes Dan made in designing his cluster challenge was to purposefully level the playing field for all participants to achieve his goal. Unlike traditional competitions where individual vendors sponsored students, he aimed for an equitable competition. Every student received the same training and hardware, allowing them to determine their learning path based on merit and commitment. This way, the Winter Classic could empower students to invest as much as they desired, tailoring their experience to their aspirations.

The Intersect360 Research Winter Classic Student Cluster Competition provides participants with more than just technical challenges. It serves as a platform for them to gain valuable experience. This real-world exposure equips participants with practical problem-solving skills and even valuable “war stories” of their hands-on experiences under pressure. One of the biggest benefits Dan has seen so far? Watching groups

learning to work seamlessly within a team, preparing them for the demands of HPC or any industry they choose to enter.

The effects of this competition are profound, with a remarkable 60-70% of participating students choosing to pursue careers in HPC. This experience not only transforms the students’ lives but also significantly impacts the industry by infusing it with a fresh, diverse talent pool.

Moving the Needle – Advice from Dan Olds

Dan Olds, Chief Research Officer, Intersect360 Research

In his pursuit of diversity and inclusivity, Dan Olds leveraged his knowledge of student cluster competitions to build his version, specifically focusing on seeking out institutions, colleges, and universities with limited resources. His advice for those wanting to make a difference, especially in influencing the acquisition of skills and broadening opportunities in education, is to seek out those people and places and give what you can — from as little as meeting with or mentoring individual students to as big as lending time and equipment to grow a whole new crop of talented individuals.

We are excited to announce that we will get even more insights on the Winter Classic from Addison Snell, CEO of Intersect360 Research. We look forward to diving further into this student cluster challenge and its initiatives, so stay tuned for a follow-up!

Don’t forget to follow along with the 2024 Winter Classic, which launched on January 22, 2024.

Move the Needle Project

Furthering the cause of diversity and inclusivity in HPC, the ‘Move the Needle’ project by Women in HPC and Alces Flight is about tracking actions people and teams are taking to drive positive change. Beginning in January 2024, individuals in the HPC field can commit to one to three actions to ‘move the needle’ toward greater inclusion. Details on how to pledge and guidance can be found on the Women in HPC here.

Winter Classic Invitational Student Cluster Competition History

The Winter Classic is made possible thanks to Intersect360 Research. Now in its fourth year, the Winter Classic has been built and designed to challenge up to twelve teams in a virtual, head-to-head competition that runs over ten weeks. With access to up to five supercomputers, a roster of talented mentors, and a host of challenges — culminating in a final interview — each group will gain valuable exposure and insight into the world of supercomputing. Check out this year’s event by connecting with our host page.

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