Bemley Scholar Ahmed Mahamad Graduates with Health Sciences Degree from University of Minnesota

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to recognize Bemley Scholar Ahmed Mahamad for his successful graduation from the University of Minnesota (Rochester) with a bachelor of sciences degree in Health Sciences.

Ahmed has a powerful BDPA legacy. He is one of the rare students in history to win three (3) national BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships. He won those three championships in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as a member of the HSCC teams trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter. As a result of his excellence Ahmed earned multiple college scholarships including the Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship awarded by BETF to support his educational efforts at the University of Minnesota.

Ahmed joined with two other HSCC alums (James Arama and Adwait Walimbe) in 2010 to create the StartLounge. StartLounge was a visual, social interface that engaged users with Facebook integration to let them preview Facebook news feeds and photos.

As a college student Ahmed continued to support his BDPA family. He was a student instructor for BDPA Southern Minnesota for a number of years and he was a participant in the 2010 BDPA IT Showcase held in Philadelphia PA. His research topic during that year's IT Showcase was entitled, 'Robotics Bioinformatics and Medicine' [paper / poster].

Ahmed is the 'future face of technology'. His graduation this weekend from the University of Minnesota is simply another step in his personal quest to rise from 'the classroom to the boardroom'. Whenever BETF donors or volunteers begin to waiver in our commitment to support of BDPA programs, scholarships and services we merely need to remember the example of Ahmed Mahamad. Today, I ask all of you to join BETF in tipping our caps to this talented young man ... and if your heart tells you ... please help us provide more college scholarships in the future for other young 'uns like Ahmed!

Congratulations Ahmed ... University of Minnesota graduate, Class of 2013!

BDPA HSCC Champion DeOnna Johnson Graduates with Ph.D. from Meharry Medical College

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is extremely proud to announce that 2004 BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) champion DeOnna Johnson received her medical degree today from Meharry Medical College! DeOnna walked across the stage of the Grand Ol' Opry in Nashville, TN to accept her diploma denoting her Ph.D. in medicine. DeOnna received her undergraduate degree in Microbiology in 2009 from the University of Tennessee before going to Meharry to study for her medical degree. Our understanding is that DeOnna will do her first post-graduate residency at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Sometimes BDPA volunteers and leaders wonder if the work that we do makes a difference. We wonder if our efforts to provide meaningful science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) experiences to the young people in our community will truly get them started on the road from 'classroom to the boardroom'. It is days like today ... when we are able to smile and celebrate in the excellence of young people such as Dr. DeOnna Johnson ... that we know it is all worthwhile.

DeOnna was part of a team of high school students (Auriel Echols, Cornell Gaulmon, Brittany Middleton and Mitchell Word) who vaulted into BDPA history by winning the 2004 National BDPA HSCC championship held in Dallas. Their victory marked the fourth consecutive year that BDPA Memphis chapter took home the gold medal at national HSCC championships ... the first time such a feat had ever been accomplished!

Please join BETF and the rest of BDPA-Nation in sharing some love for DeOnna and her family as they truly enjoy the fruits of her educational labors. I look forward to hearing DeOnna talk with a new generation of BDPA youngsters as time permits. DeOnna is the 'future face of technology' in the medical field. Her story and her success are cause for rejoicing!

Microsoft YouthSpark Challenge for Change

The Microsoft YouthSpark Challenge for Change offers US residents ages 18-25 the chance to share how you want to spark positive change in your community or the world.  The deadline is May 24.

Everybody wins! Just for entering, you will receive a $25 Give for Youth gift card to help you support a project that inspires you. 20 finalists will receive a Microsoft Surface with Windows RT and Office Home and Student 2013 RT1 to help create their winning video entry.

5 grand prize winners will receive: an all-expenses paid volunteer trip to Kenya, $2,500 cash prize, and a Microsoft technology bundle.

Message from BDPA Greater Columbia Past Chapter President

Paulette and Raven

BDPA Members and Friends,

BDPA Greater Columbia chapter president Mildred Allen and I were honored to be present at the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Commissioning ceremony on Friday, May 10th at the Duke University Chapel, Duke University, in Durham, NC. Raven Stevenson, a graduate of our local High School Computer Competition (HSCC) training program, was commissioned in the United States Navy on Friday, and she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Duke University on Sunday. What an outstanding set of achievements!

You may remember Raven as the HSCC student who won the $180,000 scholarship in 2009 while competing at the HSCC competition in Washington, DC. Her fellow team members were Dominique Geiger and Sami Patel.

L-R: Rick Leggett, Paulette Johnson-Davis, Perry Carter, Mildred Allen, Ensign Raven Stevenson, Monique Berry and Carl Hill

After the Commissioning Ceremony, the BDPA Triangle Chapter hosted a reception for Raven and her family at the First Flight Venture Center in Durham, NC. The reception was attended by members of Raven’s family, National BDPA president Monique Berry, as well as by members of the BDPA Triangle, BDPA Washington DC and BDPA Greater Columbia Area chapters.

Ensign Stevenson will report in August 2013 to CG 66 USS HUE CITY in Mayport, Florida. We congratulate Raven on her outstanding accomplishments and wish her every success in the future.

Sincerely,
Paulette Johnson-Davis
Vice President of Business Management
BDPA Greater Columbia Area Chapter

Message from National BDPA Vice President of Membership Management

Curtis Jenkins

Thank you for your membership!

Because of you, we are a great organization doing great things. In 2013, we have added over 100 new members nationwide. We have also chartered a new chapter in Huntsville, AL.

We continue to grow and you can help by encouraging your friends, family, colleagues & associates to join BDPA just as you did. Tell them of the value proposition that you receive as a member.

Remember, you can make a difference! By also being an active member, you can help yourself and your chapters reach your goals to service the community and other stakeholders who invest their precious resources with our organization.

See you at the National Conference!

Curtis Jenkins
Vice President Membership Management
National BDPA

Rest In Peace: Mark Grady (BDPA St. Louis)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation received the following message from the BDPA St. Louis chapter board of directors:

Mark Grady

It is with great sadness that I report the passing of BDPA St. Louis chapter president Mark Grady. Mark passed away at his home over the weekend. If you have had the pleasure of knowing Mark, you know that he was passionate about BDPA and the opportunity to enhance careers and create relationships and networks for minority professionals. Mark will be fondly remembered and deeply missed by all that knew him.

The service/gathering for Mark Grady will be at the following address this Saturday, May 11 at 2:00pm. It is my understanding that there will be no viewing ... only a video montage and condolences to the family ... at this St. Louis event.

Kappa Community Center
500 North Vandeventer Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63108
(314)652-0677
For those interested, there will be an additional service in Detroit will be held on Saturday May 18. More information to come regarding gifts or donations for those that are interested. The local Kappa Chapter is working to create an education fund for Mark’s two daughters.

BDPA and Eli Lilly Offer $2,500 College Scholarships for Minority STEM Students

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation is proud to open up the application period for any graduating high school student or current college student interested in the 7th Annual Eli Lilly and Company Scholarship for BDPA Students!

The purpose of the Lilly/BDPA Scholarship is to recognize outstanding minority students, with an interest in information technology, who make significant contributions to society. Applicants must excel academically, show exceptional leadership potential, and make an impact on their communities through service to others.

Lilly/BDPA Scholars will be awarded a one-time $2,500 scholarship that may be used to pursue an information technology focused degree at an accredited four-year college or university of their choice. The Lilly/BDPA Scholarship may be used to supplement benefits from the college or university a student plans to attend and fellowships from other foundations or organizations. Students may use the scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, room and board, and other college-related expenses.

Scholarship winners will be selected based on the application, essay, and letters of recommendation.

To be eligible for Lilly/BDPA Scholarship, each applicant must:

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident of the United States
• Be a member of BDPA
• Be a graduating high school senior or current college student in good standing at the time of their application.
• Demonstrate academic achievement (minimum GPA of 3.0)
• Exhibit leadership ability through academic or civic involvement and participate in community service activities

Complete application packet must include the following:

1. Application Form
2. Current transcript
3. 500-word essay on “Why Information Technology is Important”
4. Two letters of recommendation

Click here to download application!

Scholarships will be awarded only to students who fully meet the scholarship requirements. All application materials must be RECEIVED on or before July 1, 2013 in order to be eligible. Incomplete, e-mailed or faxed applications will not be considered!

We will announce the Lilly/BDPA scholarship winners during the 2013 National BDPA Technology Conference in Philadelphia, PA.   We are very proud of our past Lilly/BDPA scholarship winners:

1. 2007, Daniel Puente (University of Texas)
2. 2007, Christian West (Northwestern University)
3. 2008, Khalia Braswell (North Carolina State University)
4. 2008, Lee Reed (University of Michigan)
5. 2009, Hung Vo (Georgia Institute of Technology)
6. 2009, Carrine Johnson (Palos Verdes Peninsula High School)
7. 2010, Leslie Vasquez (Pike High School)
8. 2010, Gerardo Dominguez (Chicago State University)
9. 2011, Jala Cruz (North Central High School)
10. 2011, Adwait Walimbe (John Marshall High School)
11. 2012, Allen Warner (Valdosta State University)

Do you know any high school or college kids looking to study in a technology-based field during college? Can they use a $2,500 scholarship? If so, you need to share this information with them right away!

Any questions?

ConnXus CEO Rod Robinson Renews Commitment to BDPA for Another Year

BDPA is proud to learn that ConnXus founder and chief executive officer, Rod Robinson, agreed to renew its corporate support of BDPA in 2013! The focus of the sponsorship will be on corporate memberships -- the company is underwriting the memberships for two (2) company employees and two (2) college students in the greater Cincinnati area.

ConnXus provides a subscription based online service that connects minority- and woman-owned businesses with major corporations seeking to expand their supplier base and meet supplier diversity objectives. This venture-backed company revolutionizes the concept of Supplier Diversity by focusing on aggregating corporate purchasing demand and making it easy and affordable for major corporations to locate, evaluate and engage performance-rated small, minority- or woman-owned businesses across more than 100 categories.

BDPA looks to find ways to introduce ConnXus to both Fortune 100 companies and MWBE-certified small businesses that we count as corporate sponsors. That is the win-win that we look to create for all of our sponsors. If you know of any MWBE-certified business owner in your sphere of influence ... point them to the ConnXus website so that they can get connected to the supplier diversity directory leading to increased revenue opportunities!

For more information on the benefits of BDPA corporate sponsorship, please contact Wayne Hicks by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135).

Minority Executive Search President Eral Burks Joins BDPA

BDPA works very hard to promote the effort of its entrepreneurs and business owners.

For example, Eral Burks is the owner of Minority Executive Search. His company has been placing women and minority executives in Corporate America for over 30 years. He agreed to underwrite corporate memberships for a number of college students in the Cleveland (OH) area ... co-located with his firm's headquarters. He wants to see these college students get started properly in their IT industry careers with internships and other mentoring support.

Minority Executive Search is now part of a growing list of BDPA corporate sponsors!

BDPA Welcomes PNC Bank as a Proud Bronze Level Corporate Sponsor

PNC Bank joined the growing list of Bronze Level corporate sponsors at the 35th Annual National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair titled, “Diverse Opportunities in the Age of Convergence,” August 14-17, 2013, in Washington, D. C.

Committed to responsible consumer, small business, corporate and institutional lending that helps to not only sustain economic growth, but also augment it, PNC Bank originated more than $150 billion in loans and commitments last year, including nearly $4 billion to small businesses. Additionally, more than $43 million in grants have been awarded through the PNC Foundation to nonprofit organizations such as BDPA that focus on improving children’s school readiness in math and science.

Monique Berry

"BDPA is delighted to partner with PNC Bank to bring this technology job fair to Washington DC. Workforce development initiatives are a priority for BDPA, and this collaborative effort with PNC is a wonderful opportunity to help our tech community prosper by connecting great companies with much-needed information technology (IT) talent," said Monique Berry, National BDPA president.

In addition to its commitment for the conference, PNC Bank is investing in its current diverse IT employees with the purchase of BDPA corporate memberships in Cleveland, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The ability to provide meaningful volunteer and career-development opportunities for PNC employees in these three cities is an important part of the sponsorship value offered by BDPA.

As a global member-focused technology organization with over 45 active chapters in the United States, BDPA continues to stand as a leader in delivering 21st century technological programs, college scholarships, mentoring, support, and services for youth and adult IT professionals. BDPA is honored to partner with a financial giant such as PNC Bank.

For more information on the upcoming BDPA Technology Conference, contact Wayne Hicks, Director, BDPA Corporate Sales Department, corpsales@bdpa.org, (301) 584-3135.