For 37 years, WHRO Public Media and the Consortium for Interactive Instruction (C.I.I.) have worked together with Old Dominion University (ODU) to bring The Great Computer Challenge (GCC) to the Hampton Roads area. The GCC is a competition for elementary and high school students to test their computer skills. The challenges are set by ODU professors in categories such as Desktop Publishing, CAD, and Video Editing. Teams of students have either two or three hours (depending on their grade level) to complete their challenges, and the winning teams are presented awards.

The first category of the GCC, cybersecurity, was held on Saturday, March 19. The competition for the remaining categories was held on Saturday, May 14. We were thrilled to have such an engaging competition for the student teams this year and to be able to host the award ceremony on Facebook Live so that friends and family were able to join the celebration. 

Watch the Awards Ceremony:

Congratulations To This Year's Winners:

Level 2

Desktop Presentations
1st Stonehouse Elementary School, Williamsburg
2nd Matthew Whaley Elementary School, Williamsburg
3rd Crossroads K-8 School, Norfolk
Honorable Mention Bethel Elementary School, Gloucester

Desktop Publishing
1st Poquoson Elementary School, Poquoson
2nd Abingdon Elementary School, Gloucester
3rd Bethel Elementary School, Gloucester
Honorable Mention Stonehouse Elementary School, Williamsburg

Graphic Design
1st Poquoson Elementary School, Poquoson
2nd Stonehouse Elementary School, Williamsburg
3rd Bethel Elementary School, Gloucester
Honorable Mention Matthew Whaley Elementary School, Williamsburg

Internet Scavenger Hunt
1st Matthew Whaley Elementary School, Williamsburg
2nd Stonehouse Elementary School, Williamsburg
3rd Bethel Elementary School, Gloucester
Honorable Mention Petsworth Elementary School, Gloucester

Visual Programming/Block Coding
1st Carrollton Elementary School, Isle of Wight
2nd Poquoson Elementary School, Poquoson
3rd Bethel Elementary School, Gloucester
Honorable Mention Carrsville Elementary School, Isle of Wight

Level 4

CAD
1st Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
2nd Oscar Smith High School, Chesapeake
3rd Oscar Smith High School, Chesapeake
Honorable Mention Oscar Smith High School, Chesapeake
Honorable Mention Governor's School, Hampton

Cybersecurity
1st Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
2nd Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
3rd Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
Honorable Mention Governor's School, Hampton

Desktop Presentations
1st Governor's School, Hampton
2nd Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
3rd Norfolk Technical Center, Norfolk
Honorable Mention Windsor High School, Isle of Wight

Graphic Design
1st Woodside High School, Newport News
2nd Governor's School, Hampton
3rd Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
Honorable Mention Norfolk Technical Center, Norfolk

Integrated Applications
1st Governor's School, Hampton
2nd Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
3rd Windsor High School, Isle of Wight

Programming-Object-Oriented Business
1st Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
2nd New Horizons, Newport News
3rd Advanced Technology Center, Virginia Beach
Honorable Mention Governor's School, Hampton

Programming-Scientific/
Non-Business
1st Governor's School, Hampton
2nd Governor's School, Hampton
3rd New Horizons, Newport News

Web Design
1st Landstown High School, Virginia Beach
2nd Advanced Techology Center, Virginia Beach
3rd Governor's School, Hampton

About This Year's Virtual Competition:

At the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, WHRO and ODU made the decision to host the competition virtually. The decision was not an easy one to make, as the competition had been held in person at ODU’s Webb Center since the first year of the GCC. While it took a lot of behind-the-scenes work from WHRO’s C.I.I. coordinator, Angela Franklin, and the staff at Old Dominion University, the first year of virtual competition was highly successful. Since that time, the team has strived to learn and grow the virtual competition so that it is even smoother should a virtual option be needed again, as it was this year.

“In planning, we had to make a decision and plan according to the decision regardless of how the COVID cases would change. There are 79 teams registered which is up from last year’s 27 teams. Everyone has gotten so accustomed to the online/virtual life that it’s almost ‘second nature.’ The virtual GCC showcases another element. It teaches the students how to collaborate virtually. Everyone seems to be excited, although they’re looking forward to being back in person next year,” says Franklin.

Teachers, students and the staff always have fun at the GCC. While the GCC spirit hasn’t lacked during its virtual time, we look forward to next year’s competition being held in person at ODU’s Webb Center so that everyone can be together to share in the excitement.

For information regarding next year’s Great Computer Challenge, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or check out whro.org/education.