Human Capital Logistics Scholarship for Briana Abraham (BDPA Greater Columbia)

Briana Abraham

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to administer the Human Capital Logistics (HCL) Scholarship for BDPA Students. BDPA Greater Columbia student member Briana Abraham won the scholarship and plans to use it to continue her studies at George Mason University. The HCL Scholarship recognizes outstanding BDPA Greater Columbia student members, with an interest in information technology, who make significant contributions to society. Applicants must excel academically, show exceptional leadership potential, and make an impact on their communities through service to others. Applicants must be financially current members of the BDPA Greater Columbia chapter.

Briana seeks a computer science degree with a focus on cybersecurity. Her career goal is to become a reverse engineer. She worked the past two summers as a research intern at the University of South Carolina.

We asked her to share thoughts on her experience with BDPA.

2014 HSCC Team (Greater Columbia)

"I joined BDPA during my junior year in high school, shortly after I became interested in Computer Science. BDPA gave me a space to hone my programming skills, while also allowing me to collaborate with peers who held similar interests, and who were passionate about software development. My time at BDPA has greatly increased my teamwork skills, presentation skills, networking skills, and of course my programming skills.

My most memorable moment in BDPA is during the 2014 National BDPA Technology Conference, when the awards were announced for the High School Computer Competition, and it was revealed that my team had placed second. That moment was filled with elation, joy and camaraderie. My teammates and I, were thrilled to see that the days spent together in preparation for the competition had paid off. We were shocked. The moment for me was particularly special, as prior to this venture, I had no experience with web development, and being able to contribute meaningfully to the team's success, was fulfilling."

HCL is owned and operated by BDPA member Phyllis Coleman. Phyllis is a long-time supporter of BDPA ... including her service as president of BDPA Greater Columbia chapter. It is wonderful to see BDPA entrepreneurs and small business owners reaching back to 'make a difference' with our young people.

We hope that other BDPA business owners will find a way to support our young people with either scholarships or sponsored memberships. Contact BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

College Scholarships Offered by BDPA

The BDPA strategy is to bring college students into the professional chapters on the local level as opposed to creating ‘college chapters’. One strategy in place is the aggressive delivery of college scholarships to deserving BDPA high school students. There are a number of college scholarship programs in place:

1. BlueCross BlueShield Scholarship for BDPA Students - These scholarships are administered by BETF. Some BCBS Scholarships are reserved for BDPA Chicago and BDPA Dallas chapters. The rest are available nationally. This scholarship began in 2014.
   
   

2. Dr. Jesse Bemley Scholarship – These scholarships are administered by BETF. They are awarded to high-performing students in the annual BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships. Bemley scholars can be found in scores of colleges around the nation.
   
   

3. Eli Lilly Scholarships for BDPA Students – These scholarships are administered by BETF. They are awarded to students around the nation who show a desire to make a difference in the IT industry over the course of their college and professional careers. Eli Lilly & Company began funding these scholarships in 2008.
   
   

4. Human Capital Logistics Scholarships for BDPA Students – These scholarships are administered by BETF. This scholarship awards outstanding BDPA Greater Columbia student members, with an interest in information technology, who make significant contributions to society. This scholarship began in 2014.
   
   
5. Johnson & Johnson Scholarships for BDPA Students - These scholarships are administered by BDPA. They are provided to winners of the annual BDPA IT Showcase as well as all-around excellent HSCC students.
   
   
6. Monsanto Scholarships for BDPA Students – These scholarships are administered by BETF. Some Monsanto Scholarships are reserved for BDPA St. Louis chapter. The rest are available nationally. This scholarship began in 2013.
   
   

7. Oracle Scholarships for BDPA Students – These scholarships are administered by BDPA. They are awarded to deserving students selected by local chapters. Over $150,000 has been awarded to Oracle scholars over the past three years.
   
   

8. State Farm Scholarships – These scholarships are administered by BDPA. BDPA is pleased to have substantial State Farm funding to pilot its 1st Annual BDPA Mobility Application Showcase this year in Indianapolis. This scholarship began in 2014.