diff --git a/code/alexweininger.c b/code/alexweininger.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2038fad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/alexweininger.c
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#include <stdio.h>
+
+/* counts characters, vowels, consonants, and punctuation given in str
+   - vow, cons, and punct are reference parameters
+   author: alexweininger
+*/
+
+int count_em(char *str, int *vow, int *cons, int *punct) {
+  int i = 0;
+  int numChars = 0;
+  char *p;
+  *vow = 0;
+  *cons = 0;
+  *punct = 0;
+
+  for(p = str; *p != '\0'; p++) {
+    /* lab exercise -- finish loop body to increment
+     * appropriate counters */
+    // add one to numChars
+    numChars++;
+    switch(*p) {
+    case 'a': case 'e': case 'i': case 'o': case 'u': case 'A': 
+    case 'E': case 'I': case 'O': case 'U':
+      // add one to vowels
+      (*vow)++;
+      break;
+    case 'b': case 'c': case 'd': case 'f': case 'g': case 'h': 
+    case 'j': case 'k': case 'l': case 'm': case 'n': case 'p':
+    case 'q': case 'r': case 's': case 't': case 'v': case 'w':
+    case 'x': case 'y': case 'z':
+    case 'B': case 'C': case 'D': case 'F': case 'G': case 'H':
+    case 'J': case 'K': case 'L': case 'M': case 'N': case 'P':
+    case 'Q': case 'R': case 'S': case 'T': case 'V': case 'W':
+    case 'X': case 'Y': case 'Z':
+      // add one to consonants
+      (*cons)++;
+      break;
+    case '.': case ',': case ':': case ';': case '!': case '?':
+    case '(': case ')':
+      // add one to punctuation
+      (*punct)++;
+      break;
+    }
+  }
+  return numChars;
+}
+
+/* reads file from stdin */
+/* usage: a.out < filename.txt */
+int main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
+
+  /* this program only works for files whose lines are all shorter than
+     2000 characters */
+  char buffer[2000];
+
+  int total = 0;
+  int vowels = 0;
+  int consonants = 0;
+  int punc = 0;
+
+  /* read data from stdin */
+  for (;;) {
+    
+    int count = scanf("%1999[^\n]", buffer); /*read up to 1999 chars*/
+    if (feof(stdin)) break;
+    if (count != 0) {
+      int vowels1, consonants1, punc1;
+      total += count_em(buffer, &vowels1, &consonants1, &punc1);
+      vowels += vowels1;
+      consonants += consonants1;
+      punc += punc1;
+    }
+    getc(stdin); /* read newline */
+  }
+
+  printf("characters: %d\n", total);
+  printf("vowels: %d\n", vowels);
+  printf("consonants: %d\n", consonants);
+  printf("punctuation: %d\n", punc);
+
+  return 0;
+}