BDPA Legend Francisco Nunez on Entrepreneurship

Francisco Nunez has a powerful legacy within BDPA! He was a 5-time participant in the annual High School Computer Competition. He won a number of BDPA scholarships to help finance his 4-year career at Morehouse College. BDPA Atlanta chapter honored him last month on his graduation from college.

As such we are pleased to share his video message laying out his current entrepreneurial activities. Reach out and support this young squire if you have time or inclination.

Related articles

• Overview: BDPA High School Computer Competition

HSCC Alum Nnedimma Ugochukwu Shares Her Thoughts on BDPA

Nnedimma Ugochukwu approached me at the 2012 National BDPA Technology Conference to talk about support that I might provide in her efforts to get into college. Nnedimma is a rising senior at Banneker High School in the Washington DC area. 

She agreed to share her thoughts on BDPA and the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program with us:

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When I first started HSCC back in my freshman year in high school, I was excited because I always wanted to learn how to make a website. I began attempting to learn how to do so on my own before I started thanks to the social networking websites that I used. Even trying to do it on my own, it wasn’t enough because after some time, I got stuck and very confused. When I began HSCC, I learned the material with a click. Even if I did not understand what Mr. Lou Shack, my instructor taught, I always asked questions and volunteered. If his answers did not help, I went home and looked up what we learned. Another thing about me was every time we received an assignment, I did it right away as soon as I got home. I never waited till Friday to get it done. I was so into in that made me to work so hard. As the months moved by, the material we learned became so much harder, but I stayed with them till the end.

The HSCC championship was a great experience. Out of all of the conferences that I attended, the one in Baltimore was the best. The competition shows how much you know based on all the months of learning and practicing. Along with the actual competition, I got to experience the Career Expo for the first time by speaking with different companies about what they do in their field and asking what I should do to prepare myself when I finish high school. I was inspired and was able to receive contact info from many companies. From one of the DC HSCC Alumni, Francisco Nunez, He told me networking is the key. I did not know what networking was before I began at HSCC and I see why it’s so important now.

BDPA has put me on the path to study Computer Science in college moving towards a Computer Programmer with a minor in Computer Graphics. I was already on the path of computers before I joined thanks to my father, but BDPA was the base to building me up the staircase to my goal. I came to the program confident and learned so much, thanks to my teachers and my fellow students.

If you’re considering joining HSCC, make your first impression look good toward the teachers. Go to class willing to learn something new and different. If you’re not that good when you start off, ask for help. Don’t be afraid to reach out to others. The program is also a commitment so working outside of class will make you better. Staying consistent throughout the program will get you far not only in the program, but in life.

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BETF encourages you to help us provide college scholarships for young people like Nnedimma. Click here to 'make it so'!

HSCC Testimonial: Francisco Nunez (Washington DC, 2006-2010)

Francisco Nunez holds a unique position within the 25-year history of the BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships for two reasons. First, he may be the first student to ever compete in five (5) different HSCC championships. Second, he is the only student to ever represent 3 different BDPA chapters in the national championships.

• 2006, Washington DC
• 2007, Washington DC
• 2008, Northern VA
• 2009, Baltimore
• 2010, Washington DC

Francisco has many fond memories of the national conferences that he attended in 2006-2010. He earned $5,500 from the Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship fund as a result of his performance in these national HSCC championships.  Francisco also earned Oracle Scholarship honors in 2010 and 2011.  He is using his scholarship funds to attend Morehouse College.

When asked to reflect on his accomplishments within BDPA, Francisco wrote,

"My name is Francisco Nunez of the BDPA Washington DC Chapter. I have been in the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program for half a decade. I have many fond memories of the national conferences that I’ve attended during that time.

One of those memories came in 2006 when our team placed high enough to earn a Bemley Scholarship. It was my first year and I worked hard with my teammates to get there. When I heard the coordinator calling out our chapter has one of the winners … it was like nothing I have ever felt.

I fought every year after that to hold on to that feeling. My team has placed near the top every year since. We were never able to place in first place; however, placing in the top 3 for five years is nothing to sneeze at.

I have no regrets.”

Oracle Scholarship Winners from BDPA Washington DC Chapter

BDPA Washington DC High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team captains Francisco Nunez and Turkenya Herring were each awarded $1,389 in scholarship funding from Oracle Corporation to pursue degrees in the fields of science and technology. The scholarships were presented to each of the students at the chapter's 2009 annual awards banquet.


Francisco plans to use his scholarship when he begins his studies at Morehouse College.  Turkenya will use her scholarship to offset the expense needed to attend Bowie State University.    Francisco and Turkenya have also earned substantial Jesse Bemley Scholarships from the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation.

You can learn more about BDPA Washington DC chapter here.