FCA Scholar: Gerald Curtis (South University Online)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Fiat Chrysler Automobile awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to four (4) students. One of those students is Gerald Curtis who attends South University Online.

When asked to share his thoughts on being a FCA scholar, Gerald wrote,

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Gerald Curtis

"I am 40 years old and I currently live in Warren, MI. I am a Security Site Supervisor for U.S. Security Associates, the second largest security corporation in America. I am also a current student at South University Online Piedmont Community College (very well-known for their IT, Nursing and Criminal Justice programs). I've been a member of the BDPA Detroit High School Computer Competition team since 2015. They are an excellent bunch to get to know and are a great source to have not only on my resume but to get to know as new and interesting people.

When I first learned about the BDPA, I was already in South University as an Information technology student with quite a bit of experience in computers. When I received my first invite from the BDPA HSCC team, I was hesitant at first. I thought to myself here is another group waiting for me to send them money that I don’t have to enter but as time went along I learned you never should judge a book by its cover so I researched the program and found out many talented future leaders were with them that are now doctors, lawyers and in my case the best IT professionals on the planet came from BDPA. They seemed to be the best program for using my new skills and opportunities to network with other IT professionals. What I thought would be something of another group that was just there to enhance their program turned into a life changing experience.

I can't put into words how much I grew as an IT professional, but just as a person interacting with an organization that had a family feel to it. There are a lot great outcomes about being in BDPA. You learn how to be apart of a team, have leadership skills, how to mentor others about their careers, networking skills and IT skills. I’m glad Chrysler came up with this program. It really is heaven sent that teaches a student most importantly to have confidence in themselves and their abilities. The sky is the limit.

I hope that by sharing my experiences and knowledge with other students that it will help them to see that everyone needs a good education. If you want something bad enough go after it. Shoot for your hopes and dreams, push beyond your limitations and press towards the high mark for the prize. I thank BDPA for all they have done to make this experience a great one to all the people. I send a very special thank you from my heart."

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BDPA is blessed to have such a talented technology student on board as a winner of the FCA Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Gerald's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Amber Young Uses Fiat Chrysler Automotive Scholarship at University of Maryland

Amber Young * Michigan State University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Fiat Chrysler Automobile awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to four (4) students. One of those students is Amber Young of University of Maryland.

Amber recently joined our BDPA Detroit chapter. When asked to share her thoughts on being a FCA scholar, Amber wrote,

"My name is Amber Young and I am a senior at Cranbrook Kingswood School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. I am interested in a career in neuroscience. During the summer of 2015 I worked as a BDPA intern at Trinity Health Corporation in Livonia, Michigan. I worked in the IT Project Management Office supporting an electronic medical record project for St. Francis Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware. This internship provided me with an opportunity to learn about project management in an information technology implementation/ I also was able to meet senior management across the enterprise and physician staff at Saint Mary’s Hospital.

While attending the BDPA national conference in Washington, DC I learned about computer technology, coding and media development. I learned about future career possibilities in computer science and its growing importance in the era of technology. My favorite part of this experience was 3D printing. I learned the applications of 3D printing in engineering and biomedicine. I used TinkerCAD software to develop my own 3Ddesign of a biosensor. Biosensors are devices that detect a biological analyte by converting specific entities such as DNA and proteins into an electrical signal that can be measured in biomarkers as evidence of disease. Biosensing technology provides efficient, accurate detection of diseases and determines drug effectiveness. My experience at the conference has helped me better understand ways that technology can be used in life science."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented technology student on board as both a member and as winner of the FCA Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Amber's career as she seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Fiat Chrysler Automotive Scholar: Austin Little (Morehouse College)

Austin Little

The Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) Scholarship for BDPA Students is intended to provide financial assistance to a graduating high school senior or college pursuing a degree in Information Technology (IT) or an IT related discipline. FCA agreed to work with BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) to award four $2,500 scholarships in 2016. One of the scholarships is going to Austin Little, a junior at Morehouse College, majoring in Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering.

Throughout his college career, Austin has conducted research at Cornell University on efficient materials for Magneto-Restrictive Random Access Memory. In addition, he worked with Georgia Institute of Technology in computational fluid dynamics using numerical analysis techniques.

This scholarship is limited to BDPA students. Austin Little participated in the 2011 and 2012 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship representing the city of Detroit. His team took home the silver medal in 2012.

2012 HSCC Team (Austin on the far right)

We asked Austin about his thoughts on his BDPA experience.

He wrote, "There is no single memory that serves as my testimony to BDPA. This organization has helped me grow as a future IT professional as well as establish lifelong personal relationships with people interested in the IT industry that look just like me."

Austin will stay in Atlanta this summer at the Georgia Institute of Technology developing a machine learning algorithm to automatically alert a wheelchair bound person when she needs to readjust seating positions. Upon graduation Austin wants to work in the field of Big Data Analytics.