2011 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Rankings

The 2011 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships were held in Chicago. We had 19 teams competing in 2011. The 2011 HSCC Champion were from BDPA Southern Minnesota and they earned $1,500 Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship for attending college. They beat out the student members from BDPA Detroit and BDPA Atlanta.

The winning HSCC team from Rochester MN included: Zakaria Ahmed, Hassan Hassan, Daniel Sheppard, Herchran Singh and Adwait Walimbe.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to note that we provided financial support to over half of the HSCC teams that competed this year ... including the Bemley Scholarshps provided to the top five (5) performing chapters in the national HSCC championships.

Here are the rankings for all 19 teams that competed in 2011 national HSCC championships with the scholarship winnings for each student in parenthesis:

2011 Southern Minnesota HSCC Team

1. Southern Minnesota ($1,500 Bemley Scholarship for each student)
2. Detroit ($1,000 each)
3. Columbus ($500 each)
4. Atlanta ($500 each)
5. Twin Cities ($500 each)
6. Washington DC
7. St. Louis
8. Indianapolis
9. New Jersey
10. Chicago
11. Charlotte
12. Richmond
13. Cincinnati
14. Los Angeles
15. Middle Tennessee
16. Triangle
17. Greater Columbia
18. Philadelphia
19. Dallas

Our foundation seeks to increase the number of students that receive Bemley Scholarships. To do so, we need your help. Please consider making an online donation to help us interest young people in science and technology.

Bemley Scholar: Pandora Brown (Central State University)

Pandora Brown

Pandora Brown represented BDPA Columbus chapter as a member of the national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team at the 2011 and 2012 championships. Her team surprised everyone by taking the bronze medal at the 2011 HSCC championship held in Chicago. She won a Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship for her BDPA performance that will be used during her sophomore year at Central State University where Pandora is majoring in criminal justice.

We asked Pandora to share her thoughts on her BDPA experience. She wrote,

"Joining BDPA had to be one of the best decisions I have ever made. When I joined I met new people, I got to travel, and I was also able to earn scholarship money. I would recommend BDPA to all students interested in stem. I feel as if it is a really good opportunity for students to network with Black business owners. Also I feel as if it creates a bigger window of opportunity for those who may need it."

Pandora plans to serve as an officer in the United States Air Force after graduation. She is a remarkable role model for other young women in the BDPA Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. We want to increase the amount of money in our Bemley Scholarship Fund and we encourage our readers to take a moment to help us by making a secure online donation right away!

Yusuph Mkangara Uses Bemley Scholarship at Harvard University

Yusuph Mkangara

We last heard from Yusuph Mkangara when he returned home after his first experience in the 2010 national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship. Since then this remarkable young man returned with his BDPA Columbus teammates to take home the bronze medal at the 2011 national HSCC championship ... earning a Bemley Scholarship. He graduated from high school and is now in his second year at Harvard University.

We asked this young man to update our audience on his educational journey:

---

My name is Yusuph Mkangara. I am from Columbus, Ohio and my family and I are originally from Tanzania. I participated in HSCC in 2010 and 2011 as a freshman and sophomore. I had never really thought about information technology as a career path but the program certainly paid dividends as our representative team from Columbus went on to take third place in 2011.

I received my high school diploma in 2013 and I am now attending Harvard University. My joint/double major is African Studies and Sociology. While I do not have a set career path yet, I am interested in the field of education and hope to teach and conduct research in education after graduation. In the past year, I have been fortunate enough to conduct research with the guidance of a professor at Harvard and a full research team as a partnership with a local Boston Area high school.

Rest assured, my interest in information technology and computer science is still alive and well. While my trajectory is not typical of those in the STEM fields, I am hoping to later on integrate IT skills in my work in education. One of the things that most excite me about the classroom of “tomorrow” is that technology has the potential to play a transformative role in how we approach education. I think with both technological know-how and experience as a teacher and researcher, I will be in a great position to innovate the field of education by using skills that I first began learning during preparation for my first HSCC."

---

Yusuph is an example of the powerful stories being told by all of the young people who participate in the K-12 STEM programs implemented by BDPA at a local, regional or national level. Many individuals and corporations see that BDPA is preparing and enabling the next generation of technology, STEM and digital thought leaders.

You can help! Please take a moment and make a donation to our Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund.

Newsletter: BDPA Columbus (April 2015)

Newsletter: BDPA Columbus (Apr 2015) from BDPA Education and Technology Foundation

JPMorgan Chase Renews Its Silver Level Sponsorship

The opportunities for success with the underserved minority community around the nation just received a boost as JPMorgan Chase agreed to work with BDPA at the 37th Annual BDPA Technology Conference in Washington DC on August 18-22, 2015. JPMorgan Chase agreed to underwrite activities for a number of local BDPA chapters in an effort to train the next generation of IT professionals.

JPMorgan Chase is a leading global financial services firm with operations in more than 60 countries. The firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers, small-business and commercial banking, financial transaction processing, asset management and private equity. JPMorgan Chase serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world’s most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients.

“I am honored to welcome JPMorgan Chase as a Silver Level Sponsor of BDPA. On behalf of the National Board of Directors and the National Executive Committee we thank JPMorgan Chase for their dedication, support and commitment with helping BDPA impact those members through their contributions to BDPA”, said immediate past president Dr. Craig Brown. “Sponsors like JPMorgan Chase provide the necessary resources that make it possible for BDPA to continue forward with its mission.”

Founded in 1975, BDPA is the premier organization for African American professionals in the information technology industry. BDPA has fulfilled its mission and worked to bridge the digital divide by providing career growth opportunities for its members.

BDPA New York chapter president Tyrone McKinney said, “JPMorgan Chase has been a great partner to BDPA New York chapter as a host and presenter for a number of technical development seminars. We applaud and commend JPMorgan Chase for their ongoing support and commitment to BDPA.”

JPMorgan Chase used part of its sponsorship dollars to fund community outreach programs in five local chapters: Columbus, Dallas, New Jersey, New York and Northern Delaware.

BDPA Dallas chapter president Chad White noted, “The Dallas chapter would like to thank JPMorgan Chase for it's continued support. With their outstanding contribution the students of the chapter will be attending the 2015 conference.”

For more information about BDPA or its sponsorship program, please contact us by email (corpsales@bdpa.org) or phone (301.584-3135 x108).

This Week in BDPA (Nov 4-10)

BDPA offers strong programs in 45 cities around the nation. Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Nov 5: Middle Tennessee - Workshop, 'PMP Bootcamp'
• Nov 7: Washington DC - Fundraiser, 'Annual Scholarship Awards Dinner & Fundraiser'
• Nov 7: Los Angeles - Program Meeting, 'Building and Monetizing Websites'
• Nov 8: New Jersey - Fundraiser, 'Annual Awards and Scholarship Banquet'
• Nov 8-10: Orlando - Board Meeting, 'ITSMF 4th Quarter Symposium'
• Nov 8-9: Columbus - Conference, 'DogFood Conference 2012'
• Nov 10: Cincinnati - Fundraiser, '17th Annual Education Banquet'
  

Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed! You can always find BDPA programs, services or networking activity online at places such as:

• BDPA Facebook Group
• BDPA Foundation Facebook Page
• BDPA LinkedIn Network Group.

BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you find reasons to provide tax-deductible support to our Causes, our HSCC Scholarship Funds or Your Causes! We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events

BDPA IT Showcase: 'Robotics: SCARA, Cartesian and the Elephant Man' (Briana Lee)

Briana Lee is a junior at Columbus South High School. She was a first-time participant in the 10th annual BDPA IT Showcase held August 1-2, 2012 in Baltimore, MD. Briana wants to attend college and become licensed as a psychologist. Her BDPA IT Showcase research topic was, ‘Robotics: SCARA, Cartesian and the Elephant Man’.

Ms. Lee shared in her research information on how robotics plays such a huge role in the technology world. She discussed the history, components, barriers and impact of robotics on our society. She compared SCARA, Cartesian and the Elephant Man robotics prototypes and demonstrated how they were each being used in everyday life to make businesses more efficient.

BDPA IT Showcase: 'Robotics: SCARA, Cartesian and the Elephant Man' (Briana Lee) from Wayne Hicks

Ms. Lee is another example of the young people that receive powerful STEM experiences as a result of the work of BDPA on a local, regional and national level. Ms. Lee is the ‘future face of technology’ and she is yet another reason for you to invest in BDPA!

BDPA IT Showcase: 'Social Media: Let's Get Conn_Ected' (Alilea Fitzgerald)

Alilea Fitzgerald is a junior at Columbus South High School in Columbus, OH. After graduation she wants to pursue a career in forensic science. This is her first year competing in the BDPA IT Showcase. Her research was entitled, ‘Social Media: Let’s Get Conn_Ected’.

Communication right now is the best way to get into people’s heads. Communication has been used by rulers to gain control and power and attention of the readers or listeners. Today we use social media to communicate, control, gossip and grab people’s attention with marketing. People can be anywhere in the world and look at Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo and so forth.

BDPA IT Showcase: 'Social Media: Let's Get Conn_Ected' (Alilea Fitzgerald) from Wayne Hicks

Ms. Fitzgerald’s research gave information on how social media works, how it is used in society, its impact and the barriers that confront it in the future. Ms. Fitzgerald is another ‘future face of technology’ brought out into the world by the works of BDPA.

BDPA IT Showcase: 'Green Technology: Environment and Wires' (Wesley Walker)

Wesley Walker is a junior at Groveport Madison HS and Fairfield Career Center in Ohio. He is actively involved with the 10th annual BDPA IT Showcase. He participated on the 2011 BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship team trained by BDPA Columbus chapter. The team earned college scholarships with their 3rd place finish.

His 2012 IT Showcase research focused on ‘Green Technology: Environment and Wires’. Green technology is the use of the alternative resources to get energy. Using these resources is a benefit for the general health of people, the environment of our planet, and it also saves money. The resources used are inexhaustible and have an unlimited amount as opposed to the natural gases we tend to use.

BDPA IT Showcase: 'Green Technology: Enviornment and Wires' (Wesley Walker) from Wayne Hicks

Wesley earned the silver medal in the High School division of the BDPA IT Showcase with this research. He was presented to the National BDPA body as one of the ‘future faces of technology’ during the 2012 BDPA Awards Gala.

Message from Columbus Chapter President

Deborah Smedley

Good Evening Everyone,

I would first like to update you on the results of the National BDPA Technology Conference that took place in Baltimore, Maryland August 1-4, 2012.

CONGRATULATIONS to our IT Showcase Students!!!!! BDPA Columbus student member Wesley Walker (Groveport Madison High School and Fairfield Career Center) came in 2nd Place in the High School division of the IT Showcase Category! Wesley's research topic was: Green Technology: Environment and Wire.

The team of students that we sent to compete in the 2012 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship came in 16th place out of 45 eligible chapters! They worked very hard but had some difficulties connecting the front end application with the back-end database. I commend them for their efforts and know we will get there next year.

Although our Graphic Design was not selected, I commend Ariel Collins for doing a fabulous on the Graphic. Great Job!. We will have T-Shirts with the Graphic available soon.

I also want to thank all of you for making this happen. I want to provide great thanks to the judges for the local competition. Specifically, Donna Schaffer (Kaplan College), Lori Crews (JPMorgan Chase), Branndon Kelley (AMP) and Kellie Collins (State of Ohio). Thank you all for your support, guidance and time. I am sure the students and parents also appreciated your feedback.

I want to thank those who donated prizes to the competition for both our High School and Middle Students. Specifically, Chester Robinson (Nationwide Insurance), Branndon Kelley (AMP), Karen Williams (JPMorgan Chase), Lori Crews (JPMorgan Chase), Stephanie Bridges, Donna Schaffer (Kaplan College), Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity; Kellie Collins (State of Ohio) and the BDPA Columbus Chapter for your donations and support for our young people.

I want to thank Amy Hall and the rest of the DeVry University Team who supported our organization and allowed our student programs to continue on their campus throughout the year. I want to also thank Donna Schaffer and the Kaplan College Team for allowing our organization to not only hold classes at their campus but provide us the flexibility to hold meetings and Information Exchanges there.

I want to thank our instructors, who worked tirelessly to create a curriculum and teach alongside their full-time jobs, family and overall busy schedules. Specifically, Harshal Patel, Application Development (.NET); Chester Robinson, Database Skills, Graphic Design; Craig Collins, Virtual Reality, Video Game Maker; Andrea Avant, Etiquette and to Jessica Tucker for providing assistance throughout the program and even transporting students.

I want to thank our volunteers, who worked very hard for the Chapter with their limited time schedules. Specifically, Jessica Tucker, Jeff Daniels, Kelly Collins and Courtney Crews. This shout out goes to volunteers I did not mention (I apologize but you are appreciated).

Craig Collins

I want to thank Craig Collins (Student Programs Director) for working with the students throughout the National Competition, keeping things organized and making sure they were up and ready to go on time. This was not an easy task.

A GREAT BIG SPECIAL THANK YOU goes to JPMorgan Chase, who came through and financed our entire trip and experience at the National Conference. We were able to take eight (8) students and two Adults. This is awesome!! Caress Pendleton was the catalyst for getting JPMorgan Chase to continue to support our Chapter. BIG THANKS TO YOU!!! Thank you Karen Smith (JPMorgan Chase) for also supporting this effort.

We will begin our strategic planning for 2013 in September. Our 2013 Student Programs will begin in January. We have lots of work to do. In 2013, we would like to compete in all areas:

1. Take an HSCC Team of 5 students
2. Take an IT Showcase Team of 5 students
3. Take 3 students to the Youth Technology Camp

We need the help of everyone in the BDPA Columbus chapter to make this happen.

Look for more correspondences from me on the progress and status of BDPA Columbus. If you don't know about BDPA Columbus...you better ask somebody!!!!

Thanks so much!!
Deborah E. Smedley, President
BDPA Columbus

BDPA Leaders: George Brooks & Jimm Middleton

George Brooks (l) and Jimm Middleton (r) posed for this photo at the National BDPA Board of Directors meeting held in Cleveland on May 2005.

George is a long-time BDPA member with ties to our chapters in Chicago, Detroit and Columbus. He served as president of the BDPA Columbus chapter from 2004-2005.

Jimm is a long-time BDPA member with ties to our chapter in Washington DC and Orlando. He served as a chapter president in both chapters ... and in fact, is the founder of the BDPA Orlando chapter. Jimm met his soul-mate in BDPA. They are now married and living the good life in Orlando!

Black Technology Professional Networking in Columbus, Ohio

by Cecil Jones, past president
BDPA Columbus Chapter

Do you want to network with other success minded technology and business professionals? Are you interested in technology and new to Columbus? Do you need a technology mentor or want to mentor technology professionals? Consider visiting the BDPA Columbus, an organization focused on the development of technology acumen in the African American community here in Columbus, Ohio. The chapter is a strong, dedicated, caring network. Some of their activities are described below.

BDPA is a national technology organization that focuses on developing African American with a technology interest. There are chapters in most of the larger cities in the country, including Columbus. It is a good local and national network. They sponsor a national conference in a different city each year. The national conference highlights include a Career Fair where you can talk with hiring companies before, during and after the Career Fair. In the evenings, before and after the career fair, the companies sponsor free, informal ‘get-to-know the company’ gatherings in large meeting rooms. There, the companies describe what they do, answer any questions provide help with resumes and do career coaching.

The conference also provides many seminars focused on technology, management, project management, career development, entrepreneurship, networking and other valuable skills. It sponsors technology competitions for high school student competitors from around the country. BDPA national conferences include meetings of the IT Senior Management Forum (ITSMF) for those at the CIO, Vice President and Director levels. The ITSMF is a national forum that national organization dedicated to fostering upper-level executive talent among African American IT professionals. Those not at the upper-level can join as a protegee to be mentored by an executive.

The local chapter of BDPA has a great history. Several of the founders of the local chapter have become business owners or IT executives.

Cecil Jones

• One of the founders is Archie Williamson, the CEO of Diversified Systems, a regional Consulting company. 
• Another founder, Delden Fane, has moved to Atlanta and started his IT Consulting company. 
• The longest serving chapter president, Cecil Jones (author of this article), has been Vice President/Administrative Manager at JP Morgan, Director of Technology at Computer Sciences Corporation, Director of Interactive Technology at Cincinnati Bell and Associate Director at Network Applications at The Ohio State University, after starting his career at IBM.  
• Reggie Hillery, the immediate past chapter president, is an IT Consultant. 
• Deborah Smedley, the current president of BDPA Columbus, has held multiple management roles in Information Technology and teaches technology at the university level. Deborah has received the Alpha Phi Alpha Jewel Award for Technology Leadership, among other honors. 
• Wayne Hicks is a former national president of BDPA and former president of BDPA Cincinnati chapter. He is the president of BETF (BDPA Education and Technology Foundation), a 501c3 non-profit charity, founded in 1992 to support the education and technical programs of BDPA. Wayne is a speaker at some BDPA Columbus chapter meetings and has advised and supported African American technology businesses here in Columbus on a hands-on basis. BETF support chapters across the country.

The local BDPA chapter has had a successful record of attracting corporate sponsors. These sponsors have in the past assisted with providing instructors and sponsoring the High School Computer Competition team to attend and participate in the national competition. Training for the August 2012 conference competition has begun. Students are needed. Instructors are needed.

Along with BDPA members and guests, recruiters and hiring managers typically attend the BDPA meetings. The Information Exchange chapter meetings typically focus on a technology or business trend around technology. Previous topics have included the secure usage of Facebook, Security concepts, Web development and Branding, Project Management, Vendor product demonstrations and other topics.

In addition to the High School Computer Competition teams, additional programming is developed for middle school children. The local chapter’s training focuses on middle school through high school students. BDPA Columbus chapter took home the bronze medal in the 2011 national BDPA HSCC championship.

The strategic value for members surrounds the networking with other members, the education and training and also the ability to quickly get to a hiring manager when looking that new position. Mentoring occurs across the chapter. Businesses come to BDPA looking to hire employees. Some small businesses have attended BDPA chapter meetings to find a competent web site and branding builder.

The Columbus chapter has had chapter meetings at multiple locations, including: JP Morgan Chase, Nationwide, Cardinal Health, Limited Brands, and the Urban League. Employers like BDPA as a resource to support their existing employees, in addition to helping them find qualified new employees.

BDPA participated in a December 2011 community gathering with other Black professional organizations (Columbus Association of Black Journalists, the National Society of Black Engineers and the National Association of Black Accountants). Collectively, they produced a couple of thousand dollars for needy families to have good Christmas seasons. They bought clothes and other necessities for African American families with limited funds that were selected via Franklin County Children Services.

The BDPA mission includes developing their members, developing our children, assisting BDPA stakeholders, and reaching out to the community.  BDPA Columbus supports Black Family Technology Awareness Week in February of each year.

Do yourself a favor -- contact BDPA Columbus chapter or National BDPA (for those of you that live outside of Ohio). You, your family or someone you know will benefit from taking that 5 minutes to reach out to BDPA.

Message from Columbus Chapter President

Welcome to all who are new to BDPA in Columbus, Ohio.

BDPA Columbus Chapter is a technology organization that pride ourselves in supporting young professionals, seasoned professionals and professionals in transition. We are especially proud of our student computer programs which will be starting up in March for both high school and middle school students. This includes virtual reality, .NET programming, database skills, graphic design and technology research and presentation.

We promote community service for both our adult and student members. We have regular Information Exchanges where a technology or business related topic is discussed as well as recruiters' site.

Our focus this year is retention; not only to build our membership but to retain our members by spending quality time together as a group and give back to the community and our kids collaboratively. Often times our students receive scholarship money.

I hope I have peaked your interest in becoming a part of BDPA Columbus or sponsoring our initiatives. We want YOU!!! Interested? Excited? If so, please contact me through this site or send me a message at president@bdpacolumbus.org.

Deborah Smedley, president
BDPA Columbus Chapter

Message from Columbus Chapter President

Deborah Smedley

Hello Everyone,

I can't believe that it is 2012 already. We have so much to do this year. We are in the planning stages for our Student Programs (Programs in addition to HSCC), Project Management Team, 2012 Information Exchange Line-Ups, Community Service Initiatives, College Collaborations, Redesigning the BDPA Columbus Website, 2012 Member Meetings and Special Events. That is a lot to accomplish but we are excited to do so.

We are in need of volunteers to help with our student programs, become a member of our Website Team, help to project manage our initiatives or help plan events.

• If you are interested in knowing more about the BDPA Columbus Chapter and want to become a member, please send me a message.
• If you are already a member and not involved, make 2012 the year you give back - Get Involved.
• If you are interested in how you can help, please send me a message.

I look forward to a great year!

Thanks,
Deborah Smedley, president
BDPA Columbus Chapter

This Week in BDPA (Nov 6-12)

BDPA has 45 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry.

Our hope is that you find reasons to provide tax-deductible support to us here, here or here!

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Nov 7: Columbus - Program Meeting, 'Cloud Computing & Virtualization'
• Nov 8: BETF - Radio Show, 'BDPA iRadio Show'
  
• Nov 9: Chicago - Membership Drive, '11th Annual Diversity Career Fair'
• Nov 9: Washington DC - Fundraiser, 'Annual Scholarship Banquet'
• Nov 10: New Jersey - Program Meeting, 'Six Sigma and Project Management'
  
• Nov 12: Washington DC - Membership Drive, 'Career Fair & Membership Drive'
• Nov 12: New Jersey - Workshop, 'SITES/HSCC Open House'
• Nov 12: Los Angeles - Fundraiser, 'Electronics Waste Recycling'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

Cloud Computing and Virtualization (BDPA Columbus)

BDPA is a global member focused organization that serves the professional well-being of its stakeholders.  This blog encourages all of our stakeholders in Central Ohio to make plans to participate in the upcoming program meeting hosted by our BDPA Columbus chapter. BDPA Columbus remains committed to excellence and providing a wide spectrum of resources to members, corporate sponsors, businesses, educational institutions and the community. The organization is a catalyst for professional growth and technical development for those in the IT industry.

JPMorgan Chase Hosts Information Exchange on Emerging Technologies - 
Cloud Computing and Virtualization

Presenter: Technology Director - Larry Glaze

 Monday, November 7, 2011  from  5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.

 at

JPMorgan Chase

1111 Polaris Parkway

Columbus, OH 43240

North Entrance - Conference Room: 1D0031/1D1039

Presentation Overview

Discover basics on Cloud Computing and virtualization and how it is being leveraged in the Financial Industry. We will be discussing:

·Scope, direction and emerging trends

·Technologies and applications

·Education and credentials required

·Career & business opportunities
 

Register for this event now at :

http://bdpacolumbusinfoexchangenex-atom.eventbrite.com

There is an immediate need for IT professionals at Chase!  Recruiters will be in attendance. Bring resumes. Create a profile on chase.com

Message from Columbus Chapter President

Deborah Smedley

Everyone,

I am writing you all to thank you for your support of our High School students that went to Chicago to compete in the National Computer Competition. They placed 3rd in the nationals. This is a record for the BDPA Columbus Chapter. All things are good through God.


We want to keep this momentum going as our chapter is currently in the spotlight and shining. What a wonderful accomplishment to be third in the nation for the national competition. Our students conducted themselves professionally, did well on the written and oral competition and their technical skills impressed the judges. I remember when the students first started out in the program, they were like full of giggles, some were shy with their heads in the clouds.

Since then they have have really grown to be strong, confident and professional people. They have also grown as the BDPA Columbus High School team. I have witnessed the bond they have as a team and that is priceless. Our instructors and Coordinator established lasting relationships with the students providing more than just instruction. They have been great role models, mentors, encouragers, advisers and provided tough love where necessary.

We are also very thankful to DeVry University for allowing the Middle and High School programs to be conducted on the Alum Creek campus. They have supported our efforts tremendously.

We are also very thankful to you all for making the competition trip happen. We were a bit worried there ... just a little ... but you all came through. So thank you again.

We will be ramping up the middle and high school program for next year. We are looking for volunteer instructors and looking for you all to help us fill the classrooms with middle and high school students.

We are planning a members meeting to give you a look at what the students experienced during the program and at competition. We are also going to be creating committees to help with fundraising for next year.

Also look for details of a picnic to honor all of our students, instructors and coordinator for their commitment and hard work.

As always thank you and God bless!! We have the best Chapter in the Nation and we are going to take the title next year.


Deborah E. Smedley, President
BDPA Columbus Chapter

Grant Declination: James and Kathleen Rutherford Foundation (BDPA Columbus)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation learned that our grant proposal submitted earlier this year to the James and Kathleen Rutherford Foundation has been turned down. We asked for funding to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship program implemented by our BDPA Columbus chapter.

The declination letter read as follows:

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Dear Mr. Hicks,

Thank you for your interest in the James A. and Kathleen C. Rutherford Foundation, a Supporting Foundation of The Columbus Foundation. The Foundation is not accepting grant applications at this time.

We wish you all the best in your future endeavors.

Sincerely,
Tamera Durrence, Vice President
Director of Supporting Foundations
The Columbus Foundation

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We will continue to seek funding to support the programs and services of our BDPA Columbus chapter.   Our hope is that you can take a moment to help us give out college scholarships to BDPA Columbus chapter high school students.

BDPA Midwest Regional High School Computer Competition Showcase Young Superstars in Science and Technology

In the new global economy, America needs a workforce with the knowledge and skills to compete. A new workforce of problem solvers, innovators and inventors who are self-reliant and able to think logically is one of the crucial foundations that drive innovation capacity in the nation. A key to developing these skills is strengthening science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competencies in every student and worker.

BDPA stepped up to the challenge by hosting a BDPA Midwest Regional High School Computer Competition (HSCC) and IT Showcase held at Cincinnati State Technical College on June 11, 2011. Students from Cincinnati, Columbus, Detroit and Los Angeles gathered for an opportunity to compete in oral exams, written tests, presentations and web-based design/programming projects.

Conference participants were inspired by the opening remarks given by Cincinnati State president O'Dell Owens and BDPA Cincinnati chapter president Wanda Gray.

Two students from Detroit, Austin Little (University Academy HS) and Daniel Rothchild (Pioneer HS), demonstrated excellence throughout the event to take home the gold medal for their first-place performance.

The silver medal went to Cincinnati students: Hadiya Harrigan (Xavier HS), Christian Johnson (Mason HS) and Curtis Mimes (Taft HS).

The bronze medal went to a team of three students that participated via Skype from Los Angeles: Pooja Chebolu (California Academy of Math and Science), Akindele Davies (California Academy of Math and Science) and August Robinson (Hamilton HS).

Cincinnati Bell chief information officer Kevin Murray visited the regional competition to personally observe the work being done by the students. He noted that one of the high school students on the Cincinnati team recently accepted a summer internship within the Cincinnati Bell information technology department. He is looking for an opportunity to create a collaborative experience in the coming weeks and months between BDPA, Cincinnati Bell and Taft Information Technology High School.

Many of the students in this weekend's regional HSCC championship will have opportunity to travel to Chicago later this summer for the 26th annual National BDPA HSCC Championship in an effort to dethrone the 4-time defending HSCC champions from Rochester, Minnesota.


Another inspiring aspect of the event was the BDPA IT Showcase. This event aspires to create young people with skills and interest in pursuing STEM-based Ph.D. degrees after they graduate from college. There are too few people of African descent getting doctoral degrees in computer science and other STEM-based curriculum. BDPA hopes to create a pipeline of such academic superstars with its BDPA IT Showcase.

The four Cincinnati-based students who participated in the IT Showcase were: Jahaan Maiden (University of Cincinnati), Li-Ara Jackson (Mason HS), Landon Jackson (Mason HS) and Tariq Maiden (University of Cincinnati). These young people gave detailed presentations on a variety of topics including: 'History and Current Uses of GPS', 'Virtual Reality in Second Life' and 'How Global Processing Units Have Changed the World'.

BDPA Columbus chapter member Ricardo Wilkins shared his thoughts on the event on his blog. He also took time to record some comments from participants in the event.





The parents, volunteers, judges and sponsors were inspired by the performance of all the students who traveled by highways and cyberspace to participate in the BDPA Midwest Regional HSCC and IT Showcase. The hard work put in by Joseph Parker (Procter & Gamble) and his planning committee paid off in a major way.

BDPA is committed to prepare our children for careers in science and engineering much begin long before they are of college age. BDPA has a number of programs that enrich the pre-college STEM curriculum in the nation’s K-12 school systems, and encourage young students to take the requisite courses for careers in those fields. While the lack of preparation crosses all demographics, it is particularly acute in under-served communities.

We encourage you to find a way to support BDPA programs as either a volunteer or donor. Please contact BDPA Education and Technology Foundation executive director Wayne Hicks on (513) 284-4968 if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

3rd Annual Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative Conference (June 29, 2011)

I'm convinced that the future success of BDPA is tied to its ability to provide unique information technology (IT) exposure and experiences for our members. Many of those programs are delivered by BDPA volunteers at a local or national level. However, there are also great IT experiences that can be garnered by forming strategic alliances with other groups.

We encourage the leaders from the six BDPA chapters in Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio to support the Third Annual Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative Conference presented by the Kentucky Girls STEM Collaborative, the Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, and the Northern Kentucky STEM Collaborative

The theme for the 1-day conference is “STEM OPPORTUNITIES AND NEEDS IN KENTUCKY: Making the Connection Between Education and Industry”. The Conference works to ensure girls in grades K-12 are aware of potential careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). and encourage them to pursue careers in those fields. BDPA can add value to this event by ensuring that young girls of African descent are also aware of these education and career opportunities.

The keynote speaker for the event will be Nancy Holliday, General Manager at Microsoft. There will also be many representatives from local industry at this conference to talk with local educators, parents, and students about their job and career path.

We encourage anyone who is an Educator, STEM professional, Student or Parent to attend! The registration cost is only $25. You can learn more about this conference here.