Honors & Recognition

Outstanding Mentorship Award — Quatrefoil Medal (2025)

ICPC Challenge powered by Huawei · Back-to-back recipient, 2024 and 2025

Recognized for mentorship and sustained support of emerging problem solvers in the competitive programming community.

The medal features a star that shines brightly in a blue night sky, surrounded by red patterns and ears of wheat. The medal gives the feelings of solemnness, elegance, and power.

The medal symbolizes the countless coaches and educators in the competition community who are like bright starts illuminating the way forward for up-and-coming problem solvers, and providing steady support for the community and society at large.

Outstanding Problem Advisory — Taking the Field Medal

ICPC Challenge powered by Huawei

Recognized for professional guidance in contest problem discovery, development, and review. This work supports the rigor, clarity, and quality of competitive programming contests.

The obverse of this medal features an engraving of Saint George about to slay a dragon. He is rearing up on a mighty steed and preparing his sword to strike. The image symbolizes bravery and victory.

This medal symbolizes the professional guidance offered by contest problem advisors, weaving journeys of problem discovery and solving.

Outstanding Mentorship Award — Quatrefoil Medal (2024)

ICPC Challenge powered by Huawei · First of two consecutive awards

Recognized for mentorship and sustained support of emerging problem solvers in the competitive programming community.

The medal features a star that shines brightly in a blue night sky, surrounded by red patterns and ears of wheat. The medal gives the feelings of solemnness, elegance, and power.

The medal symbolizes the countless coaches and educators in the competition community who are like bright starts illuminating the way forward for up-and-coming problem solvers, and providing steady support for the community and society at large.

Coach — Columbia-CU later, ICPC North America Championship Silver Medal Team

3rd place · ICPC North America

Coached the team Columbia-CU later to third place and a silver medal at the 2024 ICPC North America Championship. The result placed the team among North America’s top collegiate competitive programming teams.

Read Columbia’s announcement →

Excellence in Leadership Award

ICPC North America

For developing and coordinating the ICPC Internship Initiative. The ICPC North America Award recognizes extraordinary effort and achievement by ICPC North America Community members who have significantly contributed to the organization.

Yongwhan Lim – Yongwhan, or Christian, appeared on the ICPC North America radar just a few years ago, and he has had a bigger impact in that short time than almost anyone has had in the history of North America. He serves as the coach for the Columbia team, as the site director for the Greater NY regional, as chief judge for the Mid-Central region, organizes or participates in training opportunities for several universities, and is the driving force behind the ICPC Curriculum Committee, the ICPC Internship Program, the ICPC Website Development Team, the ICPC Archive project, and the Competitive Learning Institute at the World Finals. He and his wife, Grace, are vital members of the ICPC community, both in North America and at the World Finals.