Thursday, August 31, 2017

Grant Proposal * Fifth Third Bank (Cincinnati)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with the officers of the BDPA Cincinnati chapter to submit a grant proposal to the Fifth Third Bank seeking $5,000 for the 2018 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. We hope to have an answer within the next few months.

2017 BDPA Cincinnati HSCC Team
Fifth Third Bank sponsorship and donation request site online proposals, which will be reviewed by the regional Sponsorship Committee. The site was referred to us by Mark Walton, director of Community & Economic Development in the Greater Cincinnati Region of Fifth Third Bank.

BETF is willing to work with any of the 47 local BDPA chapters to obtain the funding that they need to successfully deliver their 2018 SITES program. Simply reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Braxton Smith Will Use Bemley Scholarship at North Carolina A&T State University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Braxton Smith will use the Bemley Scholarship awarded all the members of the BDPA Triangle High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team with a $1,000 college scholarship at North Carolina A&T State University.

Braxton Smith * Bemley Scholar
Braxton had a 4.0 GPA in high school and his overarching goal is to study computer science and utilize the skills he learns to enter the information technology field.   Braxton was a member of Art Club, Anime Club, Music Club and Computer Club. He has been a bowler for the last 13 years and he joined Movement of Youth, a mentoring and volunteer program that exposes students to the ‘college experience’. He volunteered at several local groups, such as Project Seeds, Durham Urban Ministries and the Durham Rescue Mission. Braxton also assisted Omega Psi Phi Fraternity as a volunteer at several church outreach programs. He worked as a summer intern with CISCO configuring servers in conjunction with being an apprentice with the Shodor Foundation. Both positions allowed him to work with web design, code development and languages and mathematical calculations. To finish it all off, Braxton worked in the Genome Science Department at Duke University.

Braxton plans to study computer science at North Carolina A&T State University. Braxton believes in the personal statement from Colin Powell, "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

We asked Braxton to share his personal testimonial on BDPA:

2017 BDPA Triangle (Braxton is on the right)
"I have been with the BDPA for a total of two years and in that time-frame I have had the honor and privilege of doing things people dream about. I got to attend two national conferences as the lead front end coder for the High School Computer Competition team. Since the first day I entered the BDPA, I have been truly taken from the classroom to the boardroom. Better than that, I found a second family at BDPA Triangle Chapter, one where the bonds between us members cannot be broken. My success that is to come is greatly due to this family I share here and I will not hesitate to come back and assist the Triangle Chapter with HSCC teaching or just for motivation. Additionally, I look forward to possibly partake in the college BDPA IT Showcase and BDPA Mobile Application  Showcase competitions. In conclusion, BDPA is an organization, group, and a family that I would recommend to any hungry, curious mind that searches for ways to truly disrupt the system."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Bemley Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Braxton's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Eleanor Wilson Will Use Her Eli Lilly Scholarship at Carnegie Mellon University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Eli Lilly awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to four (4) students. One of those students is Eleanor Wilson from O'Fallon, MO.

Studying Information Systems at Carnegie Mellon University with a minor in Global Systems Management has aided Eleanor Wilson in the discovery of her passion for technology. Over the past three years, she has taken every opportunity available to explore different technology industries. Starting off in human computer interaction where she was able to research how artificial intelligence can be used to address social disparities in education. Inspired by how technology can help people, she turned to technology consulting at EY for the past two years. She immersed herself in the financial services sector and was able to gain experience in anti-money laundering and risk assurance.

Eleanor Wilson * Eli Lilly Scholar
Overall, the best part about her work experiences is that Eleanor has been able to apply her skills each time in a new industry. Eleanor is always looking for opportunities to grow and improve her skills. As she finishes off her senior year, she looks forward towards securing a full time job and will go to graduate school to focus on cybersecurity.

We asked Eleanor to share her thoughts on BDPA:

"I was first exposed to the technology industry from family members in the field. In high school, I started to take more computer classes and each time was always surprised by the lack of diversity. Entering Carnegie Mellon, I had expected to meet a broader range of people in my industry. Indeed, I ended up meeting a broader group, however I still found myself being the only Black woman in my graduating class for my major, Information Systems. After hearing about BDPA from a friend earlier this year, I was eager to join. Being exposed to an entire network of people in the technology industry that I share similar backgrounds with has been refreshing and inspiring. I hope to get more active with the BDPA in the future and continue to be an advocate for Black involvement in technology."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Eli Lilly Scholarship for BDPA Students. We look forward to supporting Eleanor's career as she seeks to advance her career in the technology industry!

Monday, August 28, 2017

Tristan Trejo Will Use Bemley Scholarship at University of Minnesota

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Tristan Trejo will use the Bemley Scholarship awarded all the members of the BDPA Southern Minnesota High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team with a $3,000 college scholarship at the University of Minnesota.

Tristan Trejo * Bemley Scholar
Tristan is a young man who plans to become a well-known architect, who can find ways to incorporate Computer Science to experience the design process in each stage of Architecture, to benefit both the Architects and the client. He had a wonderful high school experience at Century High School serving at a referee in the Minnesota Soccer League, rink Attendant for the city at the Recreation Center. Tristan was also on the varsity track and field team (state medalist for pole vault) and varsity soccer team.

Tristan has been a member of BDPA Southern Minnesota for six years and a part of the chapter's youth computer team for the past 3 years. We asked him to share his thoughts on BDPA:

The most memorable moment of BDPA, was when our team was named the National winner at the High School Computer Competition (BDPA Disrupt 2017) in Cincinnati, Ohio. Our team members were all first-time competitors, but we surprised ourselves and won! The competition was tough, and requirements for the competition were very challenging and complicated. All of the other teams were very good teams. Our team members looked at each other, paused, pondered, and simultaneously, put our heads together, and strived for the best.

2017 BDPA SMN HSCC Team (Tristan is 2nd-left)
We really astonished ourselves! BDPA has had a great impact on my life. I have learned many lessons over the course of 6 years as a member, and not just lessons on coding, but I have learned to be a leader, a good public speaker, and learned how to understand my peers better, and much more. I have been able to help promote this program to the community, and I’m proud of it. The amount of knowledge I have obtained through out my BDPA career is immense, and I am very grateful that I was part of such a giving organization. I am very thankful to the people who made this opportunity available.

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Bemley Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Tristan's career as he seeks to advance in the architecture industry!

Monday, August 21, 2017

Lyndon Bowen, Jr. Will Use Bemley Scholarship at North Carolina Central University


BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Lyndon Bowen, Jr. will use the Bemley Scholarship awarded all the members of the BDPA Triangle High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team with a $1,000 college scholarship at the North Carolina Central University.

Lyndon Bowen, Jr. * HSCC Alumni (2015-2017)
Lyndon is an aspiring entrepreneur, technology advocate, and space exploration enthusiast. He has devoted himself to improving many aspects of his community, from youth inclusion in technology related fields to the mentoring and revitalization of troubled youth. He has worked very closely with the Black Data Processing Associates and the National Youth Rights Association. Currently, he is pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Business with a concentration in Information Systems at North Carolina Central University located in Durham, NC. Lyndon strongly believes in the role that his generation must play in the future and he is dedicated to bringing his ideas to fruition.

We asked Lyndon to share his thoughts on BDPA:

BDPA Triangle HSCC Team (Lyndon, 2nd-Right)
"I have been a member of BDPA Triangle chapter for three years. During the time that I have been part of the organization, I have had the amazing privilege of attending three national conferences. For the past three years, I have been the project manager and full stack coder of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team. While I had the privilege of leading my team our ranking at the National BDPA Technology Conference increased from nearly last place to third place. I look forward with great anticipation to continuing to be a part of the BDPA, moving towards working with the college aspect of the Triangle Chapter as well as coaching and mentoring the next HSCC Triangle team. I am also greatly interested in competing in either the college mobile app competition or the college IT showcase. BDPA is an organization that I would recommend wholeheartedly to any young mind to set them on a journey from the classroom to the boardroom and to show them how to truly disrupt."
BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Bemley Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Lyndon's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry

Sunday, August 20, 2017

Oumar Ly Uses Johnson & Johnson Scholarship at University of Cincinnati

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to nine (9) students. Oumar Ly is a student at the University of Cincinnati majoring in Information Technology in the Cybersecurity track with expected graduation date in the fall of 2018. He maintained a grade point average of 3.771 and has made both the Dean’s list and merit’s list. He considers himself to be a professional, dependable, considerate and hard-working. Also, Oumar is fluent in both English and French languages qualifies him for international matters.

We asked Oumar to share his bio and his thoughts on the JnJ scholarship:

Oumar Ly * Johnson & Johnson Scholar
This Scholarship means a lot to me and my family. It is a very helpful income that will allow me to reach my educational goal. I am originally from Senegal, a country in West Africa, and was naturalized US citizen on December 16, 2016. I am a full time student, full time worker, with a family of seven. This situation is one more motivation to keep going to school and succeed. I am 48 years old, already made sacrifices to be at school, and the only goal in my life right now is to earn degrees. With 4 young kids going to school too and a baby, it is very challenging to keep a balanced budget between my kids’ education, and mine. Therefore, any help is welcome.

I am also a responsible student that chooses to return to school not by compliance, but by conviction that only education is the way to succeed and provide a better life for people that are willing to do it. Beside the academic gain, knowledge of things that surround us is very important. Technology is growing and developing fast, and technicians are needed to fill the gaps. I believe that the cybersecurity program offers the most complete experience a student needs and can get, in order to be ready for higher and international responsibilities, in the cyber security field. I hope to join our national Security Intelligence team one day, and have the opportunity to serve my country and my community. The hardest part is to be financially able to support the studies. That is why scholarship is very important to student, especially to those that are willing, ready and sure to reach the finish line.

At my work place, I am part of the safety committee team that help prevent accidents and injuries at work. We work to help workers to better understand the concept of safety, and to cultivate better behaviors that will allow them to work safely, and return to their family without any damage. Meanwhile, in my community, I am a member of the Senegalese Association of Cincinnati that help naturalized citizens from Africa generally, and Senegal mainly, to learn English, read it and write it, and be able to socialize and fill out legal paper work in their own. Generally, they end up being interested to register for college studies that we highly suggest and recommend.

Oumar (2nd-left) with other JnJ Scholars
At the beginning of the year 2016, Dr. Hazem Said, the Director of School of Information technology, suggested that I join BDPA Cincinnati in order to enrich, improve and accelerate my insertion into the professional IT community, but also to find help and support to pay my school tuition and fees. That was the best day of my life, and I made the best decision to join BDPA.


BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Oumar's career as he seeks to advance his career in the technology industry!

Saturday, August 19, 2017

Jasmine Stone Uses Her Eli Lilly Scholarship at Yale University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Eli Lilly awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to four (4) students. One of those students is Jasmine Stone from Austin, TX. Jasmine will use the scholarship to support her study of computer science at Yale University.

Jasmine Stone * Eli Lilly Scholar
Jasmine interned for Google as an Engineering Practicum Intern over Summer 2017. In Summer 2016, she worked as a Lab Assistant at Janelia, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute focused on neuroscience research. She was involved in neuroscience research in Drs. Alex Huk and Larry Cormack's research lab at UT Austin from 2014-2016. She aspires to either work in the tech industry or go to graduate school to get a PhD in computational neuroscience after she finishes her undergraduate years.

We asked Jasmine to share her thoughts about BDPA:

I joined BDPA in late 2016. Since then it has been a source of information and opportunities for me. Through BDPA I have gained opportunities for scholarships, conferences and showcases. I have shared these opportunities with others at my school and in my other organizations in order to widen the community that BDPA can benefit.

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Eli Lilly Scholarship for BDPA Students. We look forward to supporting Jasmine's career as she seeks to advance her career in the technology industry!

Friday, August 18, 2017

Braxton Garner-Robinson Will Use Bemley Scholarship at University of South Carolina

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Braxton Garner-Robinson will use the Bemley Scholarship awarded all the members of the BDPA Greater Columbia High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team with a $2,500 college scholarship at the University of South Carolina. He won the scholarships by working as member of the HSCC team in both 2014 (2nd place, $1,500 scholarship) and 2015 (3rd place, $1,000 scholarship).

Braxton Robinson * Bemley Scholar
Braxton is a freshman at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, South Carolina. He plans to study computer information systems, and become a network analyst. Eventually, he would like to own his own business focusing on cybersecurity. During the summer of 2014, he worked as a poll worker with the Lexington County Voter’s Registration Office for local and state elections and he has been a front service clerk (bagger) at Publix Supermarkets since June 2015.

We asked Braxton to share his thoughts about BDPA:

"Throughout middle school and high school, I have participated in the BDPA Greater Columbia as a student and also as a part of the HSCC team. This program has helped me strengthen my coding skills and soft skills such as communication, problem solving, adaptability, and conflict resolution. During my time being a part of the high school computer competition team, we have earned 2nd and 3rd place in the national competition.

My most memorable moment is earning 2nd place in the competition, the feeling of hard work being turned into results gave me a sense of accomplishment. I apply this moment to my daily life as I will begin college this fall, and I know that if I work hard there is no limit to what I can accomplish in the future. HSCC has had such a positive impact on my life, I begin every day with the goal of working hard and I know that everything else will fall in line, it has taught me so many important lessons that have prepared me for the many challenges that I have faced in life.

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Bemley Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Braxton's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Thursday, August 17, 2017

Sean Grant Will Use Monsanto Scholarship at Howard University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Monsanto awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to three (3) students. One of those students is Sean Grant who will use the scholarship at Howard University.

Currently, Sean Grant is a senior majoring in computer engineering at Howard University in Washington DC. Although he chose to complete his undergraduate degree in Washington DC, he was born and raised in Poughkeepsie, NY. At Howard University, Sean served as the Wireless Network Security Research Assistant for the university's Cybersecurity & Wireless Networks (CWiNs) Lab. Here Sean helped develop, model, and test algorithms that help secure the transmission of wireless data. His continuing goal is to solidify a system that can improve wireless network security in the future. Alongside his research, he is a member of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) and the Institute of Electronics & Electrical Engineers (IEEE). In addition, Sean is a returning member of the Howard University Chrysler Team. This program creates a partnership between Howard engineering students and Fiat Chrysler Automobile employees in order to create a concept or design for a future Chrysler automobile model.

Most recently, Sean served as the Hardware Performance Analyst Intern within the Systems Hardware Performance department at IBM Corp. This has by far been the most enjoyable and valuable internship position he has held purely because of the knowledge he gained throughout the internship. Over the summer Sean learned about the basics of micro-processors, chip architecture, and the techniques used to solve common problems with computer chip latencies. The friendships and connections he made while at IBM were a great addition to the beneficial internship.

Sean Grant * Monsanto Scholar (2017)
Sean has a reputation for being a hardworking, organized, and most of all, reliable employee and he takes great pride in these attributes. Sean always believed in the idea that hard work, preparation, and opportunity are the three factors that lead to a successful life and he tries his best to uphold these values each and every day.

We asked Sean to share his thought about BDPA:

"BDPA is an organization with a strong and effective mission statement that I can relate to. Striving to encourage and support minority students at all levels to develop an interest in technology is a mission that I would hope to take part in as I begin my career as a soon-to-be college graduate. As a high school student, my interest in computer science and technology grew slowly. However, I was never undeniably sure that technology was what I wanted to focus my attention and energy on. Due to these slight doubts, I was apprehensive about pursuing an engineering degree once I entered college. However, after learning about the BDPA organization, along with other nationally recognized STEM organizations, I decided to commit to the pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and from my first day in class my interest in engineering and technology skyrocketed. This is the primary way in which BDPA has positively impacted me."

"Being able to see the positive impact that BDPA had on other college students around the country gave me the extra motivation to continue my pursuit of an engineering degree. My most memorable experience related to BDPA was at a tech event on campus where I was able to have a great conversation with a BDPA representative (who was also the speaker of the event). Hearing the encouraging words from the speaker was great, but what really impressed me was that after the event he took the time to talk to me about my interests in computer hardware engineering as well as his general interests in technology. This fairly simple, but impactful experience was very informative and helped me gain a stronger interest in the BDPA organization."


BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Monsanto Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Sean's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

Top 10 BDPA Chapters (Membership, July 2017)

The lifeblood of any nonprofit association is its membership. We have a chapter who leads the nation in BDPA members.... BDPA Cincinnati.   The chapter ... led by its president, Shawnda Peterson ... continues to amaze others by its consistent growth.  The chapter recently hosted the 39th BDPA Technology Conference in downtown Cincinnati and it was a remarkable event and everyone appeared to have a great time! 

Judaea Lane
The largest movement came from BDPA St. Louis chapter who moved up to 4th place as a result of the agreement they came to with Daugherty Business Solutions.   Malcom Mathis is the president of the chapter and they are doing well.  We continue to operate under the leadership of acting National BDPA VP-Membership Management Judaea Lane.   Her team now includes Chad White (Dallas).  Her efforts have allowed BDPA to continue to grow.   She realizes that we need to work hard to keep membership growth and retention higher.

BDPA believes in the management maxim -- you get what you measure.  Let us assess the numbers in order to honor those local BDPA chapters who are demonstrating success in their efforts to recruit and retain members.  Let's take a look at the ten largest chapters in BDPA-Nation:
  1. Cincinnati - president, Shawnda Peterson
  2. Detroit - president, Loraine Stewart-David
  3. Chicago - president, Reggie Rush 
  4. St. Louis - president, Malcom Mathis
  5. Atlanta - president, Victor Montgomery
  6. Indianapolis - president, Delano Robinson
  7. Philadelphia - president, Cedric Edwards
  8. Washington DC - president, Perry Carter
  9. New Jersey - president, Goldie Bonney
  10. Triangle - president, Carl Hill 
The number of chapters now belonging to the 'BDPA Century Club' currently stands at two.  The benefit of having powerful leadership is obvious when we see that Cincinnati and Detroit each have over 100 members. One of the common denominators for each of these chapters is that they place a high premium on the delivery of quality programs and services to their members. These chapters work hard to ensure that there is a strong return on the $100 investment that each member makes thru annual dues.

National president Mike Williams recently touted the value that organizational re-branding has made on BDPAWhat are your thoughts about the value of BDPA membership? What can your local chapter do to improve the value-proposition for you on a personal or professional level?

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Deja Lindsey Uses Her Eli Lilly Scholarship at Georgetown University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Eli Lilly awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to three (3) students. One of those students is senior Deja Lindsey from Chicago, IL, who will use the scholarship to support her study of computer science and sociology at Georgetown University. She has been involved with BDPA since her freshman year of college, and by attending chapter events and national conferences, she has secured a summer internship and made lifelong connections.

On campus, she is a member of the Georgetown Cheerleading Team and works as a technology specialist. She is also a recent inductee of the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society and the current president of Georgetown’s chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers.

Deja Lindsey * Eli Lilly Scholar
Besides technology, she is extremely passionate about giving back to her community and spends most of her free time volunteering with elementary school students in the DC Public School system and working with Girls Got IT!, a program she founded that works to introduce young, underprivileged girls to technology. She aspires to work as a technologist that creates or improves applications to better the lives of humans around the world.

We asked Deja to share her thoughts on BDPA:

"Being a member of Black Data Processing Associates has had a great impact on my personal and career development. From membership in the BDPA I was able to network and make connections with employees from Johnson and Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, and Eli Lilly and Company, all of which I have spent summers interning. Last year’s national conference in Atlanta actually showed me a new potential career path that I plan to pursue in my post-grad endeavors."

Deja Lindsey * IT Showcase Winner
"This year’s national conference specifically has meant the most to me. Not only did I participate as a Youth Technology Camp workshop presenter, I also competed in the IT Showcase and won first place! While this conference was much busier for me than any of my past conferences, it challenged me in a variety of ways and helped me make many new professional connections. Being a member of BDPA has exposed me to more Black IT professionals, empowering me to continue my path into the information technology career field. My most memorable moment in BDPA is winning the IT Showcase because I worked very hard throughout the school year and summer and it was very rewarding to see my hard work pay off."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Eli Lilly Scholarship for BDPA Students. We look forward to supporting Deja's career as she seeks to advance her career in the technology industry!

Monday, August 14, 2017

Long Story Short: Malcom Mathis II (BDPA St. Louis)

Mr. Malcom B. Mathis II works at Monsanto, a fortune 500 Agricultural Technology company, as an IT Business Architect for North America Supply Chain IT. Malcom has worked at Monsanto since 2011 and has taken on increasing responsibility each year. His work has taken him to numerous places in North America like Illinois, California and Iowa as well as Hawaii, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Malcom is an active contributor to the St. Louis community. He currently serves as President of the executive board of BDPA St. Louis chapter, a non-profit organization dedicated to increasing diversity in Information Technology. He volunteers in the Science and Agriculture Education Outreach program at Monsanto, chairs the Monsanto-BDPA scholarship committee and is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Malcom Mathis (BDPA St. Louis Prez)
Malcom received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. He went on to receive a Master’s in Analytical Chemistry from Kent State University in Ohio.

This blog wanted to get a more personal look into the personality of this rising BDPA leader. We asked Malcom to give brief answers to some odd questions. We hope you enjoy this new feature that we simply call, 'Long Story Short...'


  1. Simple things that make you happiest? - I get a flutter in my heart when my children playfully interact with each other.
  2.  
  3. Who You'd Like to Meet? - I would like to meet someone from the distant past and someone from the distant future (preferably of my lineage). It would be great to discuss how far we have come and where we are going.
  4.  
  5. Favorite Way to de-stress after a long week? - Play a round of golf. There is nothing like getting out and enjoying nature while playing golf; however, if I’m not hitting the ball well, it can add to the stress.
  6.  
  7. How you kill time in airports? - I try to time my arrival so I won’t have to wait long to board the plane. However, I will bring a book to read or spark up conversation with a random person. Many times I end up talking on the phone with my wife.


Malcom is an outstanding leader for his chapter! He is doing all the right things to grow his chapter and I hope that other chapter leaders around the country look up to Malcom for support.

Sunday, August 13, 2017

Daniel Powell Uses His Johnson & Johnson Scholarship at Jackson State University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to nine (9) students. One of those students is Daniel Powell from Jackson MS, who will use the scholarship to support his study of computer science at Jackson State University (JSU).

Daniel Powell * JnJ Scholar
Daniel Powell is a senior working towards his bachelor of science degree. He is currently employed as a Big Data researcher and has experience working in cyber security at the JSU e-center. His future plans include earning a masters in Computer Science and having a successful career as a game developer.

We asked Daniel to share his thoughts about BDPA:

"My most memorable moment with BDPA would have to be receiving the notice that I was selected to receive their Johnson & Johnson scholarship. It will definitely help my academic career and I am grateful I was able to be part of such an organization."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Daniel's career as he seeks to advance his career in the technology industry! 

Saturday, August 12, 2017

Ashley Shorter Uses Wanda Everett Scholarship at Florida A&M University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Daugherty Business Solutions awarded a $2,500 college Wanda Everett scholarship to Ashley Shorter.  Ashley is a member of the BDPA St. Louis chapter who will use the scholarship to pursue her computer science degree.

Ashley Shorter
Ashley Shorter is a second year computer science student attending Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. My career goals include becoming a software developer to increase the diversity pipeline at major technology companies. While she is in school, Ashley works in the ITS Department as a Web Developer, and she is currently a Web Development Engineer Intern at Express Scripts.

We asked Ashley to share her thoughts on BDPA:

"I began my involvement with BDPA during my junior year of high school in the High School Computer Competition in the St. Louis Chapter. Since then, my personal network and knowledge of the IT industry has expanded immensely. What I learned during HSCC enabled me to get a job at my university as a Web Developer as well as a summer internship on the Web Optimization team. I continue my involvement with BDPA by competing in the Mobile Application Competition this year, and I will continue my participation with BDPA for many years to come."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Wanda Everett Scholarship for BDPA Students. We look forward to supporting Ashley's career as she seeks to advance her career in the technology industry!

Friday, August 11, 2017

Yaw Asante Uses His BCBS Scholarship at Princeton University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that BlueCross BlueShield Scholarship awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to Yaw Asante. Yaw is one of the BDPA Cincinnati HSCC students who will use the scholarship to support his education at Princeton University.

Yaw Asante * BCBS Scholar (2015)
Yaw Asante is a student with the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter. He is a native of Cincinnati, born to an Illinoisan mother and a Ghanaian father, and a graduate of Walnut Hills High School. He will start this fall at Princeton University where he plans to study molecular biology and computer science. As a student, he has varied set of interests. In class at Walnut Hills, he came to be in 11 AP classes, including high-level chemistry, physics, calculus and computer science courses. Outside of class, he promoted an environmentally conscious school campus with his school's Sustainability Club and argued policy in diplomatic with its Model United Nations Club. He maintains a firm belief that information technology is the most paramount field of our time and that understanding computers is the best way to improve the efficiency and precision of any system. He finds this especially pertinent in his summer position as a research intern with Cincinnati Children's Hospital in which he builds software tools and collects data to helps doctors better understand the nature of rare diseases. By actively seeking out opportunities to expand his technical abilities through both work and programs like BDPA, Yaw hopes to continue on through college and into the workforce to use computer science to analyze and improve systems that affect how we all live.

We asked Yaw to share his thoughts on his BDPA experience:

Yaw at BDPA Computer Camp
"For me, BDPA provided real-world experience in what it meant to be an information technology professional. Saturdays spent at BDPA were like forays into the professional world, with experiences that far exceeded my expectations. I began with BDPA in the spring of 2014, hoping to expand my knowledge of the world of computing. I had already had some experience with computers simply from use. However, with BDPA, I have been able to expand my knowledge even further. I learned about not only technical aspects of working in IT, like programming languages and software design skills, but also the professional aspects of IT. Our adviser, Mr. Frank Hill, would often take time out of the day to discuss with us the importance of group cooperation and time management. Many of these skills would be crucial as our team prepared for the High School Computer Competition.

Yaw (2nd from left) and other members of 2015 HSCC Team
Of my three experiences with HSCC, I remember the pre-competition practice session of the 2015 BDPA Technology Conference held in Washington DC. During that session, our full team of members, ranging for 10th to 12th grade, meticulously went down the list of programs required for our .NET application and began to formulate a game plan what we would do first, debate who would be at the computer first and go over what our timeline would look like. It was in this rehearsal that I saw poignantly how Mr. Hill's training could come together and just how much software development can depend on a well managed team.

I greatly appreciated the opportunity, afforded by BDPA, to get an early glimpse of the professional IT world and I now more eagerly await my chance to enter it. Armed with the lessons BDPA has taught me over the years, I hope to not only survive but thrive at what is to be the challenging yet rewarding experience of concentrating in computer science at college."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the BlueCross BlueShield Scholarship for BDPA Students. We look forward to supporting Yaw's career as he seeks to advance his career in the technology industry!

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Pierre Cireus Uses His Johnson & Johnson Scholarship at FAMU

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to nine (9) students. One of those students is Pierre Cireus from Tallahassee, Florida, who will use the scholarship to support his study of computer science at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).

Pierre Cireus was born in Haiti in 1998, but he moved to the USA with his parents in 2007. He graduated high school with Honors in 2016 while I was enrolled in dual enrollment at Polk State College, a local community college.

Pierre Cireus * JnJ Scholar
Over the summer of 2017, Pierre interned at Ion Media in Clearwater, FL. Later that summer Pierre was in a study abroad program in Brazil, Sao Paulo. He is a growing linguist with fluency in four languages (English, Creole, Spanish, and Portuguese). He plans to graduate in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and then study abroad in pursuit of a masters in international business and interpretations.

We asked Pierre to share his thoughts on BDPA:

"My involvement in BDPA chapter is not very extensive. My University does not have a chapter of its own (hence I could not participate in all the activities), therefore I was simply adopted by BDPA Orlando a few months ago. Although, I have to say, the BDPA chapter offers a lot of opportunities for young African American men and women to learn and pursue an education, and that is how the BDPA chapter has impacted me."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Pierre's career as he seeks to advance his career in the technology industry!

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Priyanka Jain Uses Her Johnson & Johnson Scholarship at Notre Dame

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to nine (9) students. One of those students is Priyanka Jain from Albuquerque, New Mexico, who will use the scholarship to support her study of chemical engineering at the University of Notre Dame.

Priyanka Jain
Priyanka’s high school accolades include founding a science bowl club to spread STEM awareness, captaining a Model UN team and several Science Olympiad events, serving as an ambassador to the National Society of High School Scholars, and being a member of several national honor societies. She is a Class of 2020 Hesburgh-Yusko Scholar and a National Merit scholar. She was a finalist for AXA Achievement Scholarships and was the only finalist from the state of New Mexico for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. She has a Minor Planet 33580 named after her by LINEAR Program of MIT Lincoln Lab. Priyanka has also been the JV Tennis team co-captain and loves to play piano and violin.

Priyanka has over 5 years of research experience in the field of Biomedical Engineering. She hopes to develop the next generation of cancer treatment and has been honored for her work at several national science fairs. Her recent project, focused on developing a novel cancer treatment, placed second in the Biomedical and Health category at the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair.

At Notre Dame, Priyanka is a rising sophomore with a hope to startup a Biotechnology company. She continues to do her research during the school year and volunteering work to make a lasting impact on her community. For summer of 2017, she volunteered for 9 weeks in clinical medicine and public health in remote areas of Peru, at an elevation of 8000 feet and areas impacted by recent massive flooding. She was involved in different surgeries, general patient care and checkups, as well as medical campaigns in remote areas to bring supplies and care to highly impoverished areas.

We asked Priyanka to share her thoughts about BDPA:

"Last year, I participate at BioGENEius competition and was honored by Ms. Seema Kumar, Vice President of Innovation, Global Health and Policy Communication, Johnson & Johnson, when I placed 2nd for my project on Cancer research. She had a quite an influence on me. Winning BDPA scholarship moment was really special when I found out the morning I was supposed to go to deliver medical supplies to a remote area in Peru. Winning BDPA has motivated me to do a summer internship at Johnson & Johnson and to double my research efforts in the field of medicine and community work to make world a better place."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Priyanka's career as she seeks to start a Biotechnology company!

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

Jalil Peterman Will Use Bemley Scholarship at Coastal Carolina University

Jalil Peterman
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Jalil Peterman will use the Bemley Scholarship awarded all the members of the BDPA Greater Columbia High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team with a $1,000 college scholarship to support his study of graphic design at the Coastal Carolina University. Jalil is a 2017 graduate from Dutch Fork High School. Regarding career goals, Jalil plans to study graphic design at Coastal Carolina University to gain better knowledge of this field and become a Graphics Designer for a shoe or clothing company.

We asked Jalil to share his thoughts on BDPA:

"The most memorable moment from BDPA that I can take with me would of course be the experience of the HSCC competition. From the day we left for the conference until the day we got home, we had a very unique experience. I remember our instructor coming over to our room to give us presenting tips and reviewing key words with us. The day of the competition had my mind everywhere, being in a room full of other competitors that possess the same skill as us but only few could come out on top. On the day of the award ceremony I was very surprised when they called our name for coming in third place. Knowing you worked hard on something and it paying off like that is something I will never forget.


BDPA Gr. Columbia (Braxton, Briana, Jalil)
Participating in the BDPA program has left me with a more open mind about how to solve problems and most definitely how to interact with others and present myself to others. I have also taken away 'how to plan out' and 'how to get certain task done' is a much better use of my time."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Bemley Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Jalil's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Monday, August 7, 2017

Jordan Brown Will Use Monsanto Scholarship at University of Missouri

Jordan Brown
BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Monsanto awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to three (3) students.  One of those students is Jordan Brown from St. Louis, MO who will use the scholarship to support his study of graphic design at the University of Missouri.

We asked Jordan to share his thoughts on BDPA.
"Receiving the Monsanto/BDPA Scholarship has lessened my financial burden thus allowing me to focus on my academic pursuit in addition to balancing financial goals and academic acuity. Although my current major is Graphic Design, In the near future, I see myself with a career in the coexisting fields of Architecture and Information Technology. Currently a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, my overall career goal is to master and educate others on the process of critical thinking and problem solving through operational systems and other conceptions in both the Information Technology and architectural fields."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Monsanto Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Jordan's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!