Kevin Gates (Microsoft) * BDPA Epsilon Community Service Award

BDPA awarded the Epsilon Community Service Awards at the annual conference earlier this year. Kevin's winning nomination read as follows:

Helping change the world in the way Kevin aspires to is not easy. It takes a person who is creative, energetic, passionate and committed to his personal mission. It takes a person who has a strong understanding of his own personal values, as well as those necessary to be successful at a career in technology. Kevin is a shining example of such a person.

Starting as a line cook at 2 restaurants, Kevin began training at the now renowned I.C. Stars and began to tap into his considerable talent. He is now a respected Technology Architect at the Microsoft Technology Center Chicago. This incredible story in itself is not what makes Kevin an outstanding award recipient. To really understand how Kevin blends his zeal for technology with his passion for community, you need to look beyond his achievement at Microsoft.

He has given of himself through programming and hosting technology career seminars with Chicago Public School students; motivated Latino youth to develop their leadership skills at the Mirta Ramirez School, served as a mentor for Science Minor students at the Museum of Science and Industry; served as an advisor to both students and executives at I.C. Stars; and participated on the Advisory Boards for Banner Institute and Westwood College. There are several other community programs that Kevin touched and made better by his presence and individual effort.

Kevin inspires those in his community every single day, showing us that career and community leadership go hand-in-hand when it comes to building a society that moves forward together.

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