Kunle Roberts Reflects on Bank of America Scholarship for BDPA Students

Kunle Roberts

Kunle Roberts was a member of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) teams trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota in 2006-2008. He was part of two national HSCC championship teams (2007-2008) and the other team took home a silver medal (2006).

Kunle earned many scholarships for his efforts within BDPA including the Jesse Bemley Scholarship issued by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).   Kunle learned about the Bank of America Scholarship for BDPA Students while he was gaining his STEM experiences with BDPA. He became one of the first recipients of that college scholarship funded by Bank of America.  He used the scholarship to further his education at Rice University.

We asked Kunle to reflect on the impact that the scholarship had on the direction of his college and professional career. Here is what he had to say:

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"My experience in BDPA was instrumental in my development as a young adult. The organization, from the local to the national level, has supported me throughout my entire high school and college career. I am very thankful for this great organization and all that they have accomplished to enrich the youth of today. By collaborating with Bank of America, they have found yet another way to provide support and recognition to individuals like myself. As higher education gets more and more expensive, scholarships such as the Bank of America scholarship are an absolute blessing and a motivation to continue to succeed. I ask that you continue your partnership with BDPA to truly enrich the lives of students and provide them with additional support to reach their goals. I am extremely grateful for what I received from Bank of America and BDPA, and I really hope that others get the same chance to benefit."

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BETF is hopeful that Bank of America will consider renewing its funding of these college scholarships for exceptional BDPA student members in 2016. If not, we hope that other corporations or entrepreneurs will consider working with us to significantly increase the quantity of college scholarships that we provide to young people interested in careers within the IT industry.

You've heard Kunle's story. What say u?

HSCC Champion Kunle Roberts Congratulates Young 'Uns from BDPA Southern Minnesota

Kunle Roberts was a member of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) teams trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota in 2006-2008. He was part of two national HSCC championship teams (2007-2008) and the other team took home a silver medal (2006).

Kunle earned many scholarships for his efforts within BDPA including the Jesse Bemley Scholarship issued by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF).

In this video, he congratulates the 2010 National BDPA HSCC Champions from Southern Minnesota.





Kunle is currently attending Rice University along with other HSCC alumni such as Lauren Pemberton and Dr. Mackale Joyner.

Soulclap to BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter president Charlie Perkins for providing us with this video clip. I encourage other BDPA leaders to take some time to capture testimonials on video ... and share them with us when you have 'em!

HSCC Testimonial: Kunle Roberts (Southern Minnesota)

BDPA Southern Minnesota is the most successful dynasty in the 22-year history of the national High School Computer Competition (HSCC). Students from that chapter have won over $62,000 in scholarship funding from the BDPA Education & Technology Foundation since 2003.

One of the shining stars from the chapter is Kunle Roberts. Kunle is a 3-time national HSCC member. He earned $7,000 in Bemley Scholarships and another $2,500 from the Bank of America Scholarship for BDPA Students. We asked Kunle to share his thoughts on his time with BDPA. Here is his testimonial:

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A lot of my time over the last four years has been contributed to BDPA, and thankfully a lot of it has paid off. I have been in BDPA since 9th grade and I’m happy to say that I’ve continued to participate in HSCC each year. BDPA creates a unique experience for learning a new skill and meeting new people and I’m extremely blessed to have been a part of the Southern Minnesota chapter.

My first year in BDPA was spent crawling my way through things trying to develop an understanding for web programming. Though I had no previous experience with binary, HTML, or ASP.Net, I managed to be chosen as an alternate for the HSCC team by the end of the year. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to the National Conference in Detroit, but after some urging by the chapter’s coordinators I decided to go. At that conference (besides having to wake up early and dress up each day), I had an awesome time. I was completely stunned and amazed by the surroundings of the GM Renaissance Center. I recognized the true scope of BDPA since I was suddenly surrounded by each of the chapters from around the country. After returning from the conference and seeing my teammates win 1st Place, I was sold on BDPA.

The next fall I jumped into BDPA with a renewed fervor. I worked steadily throughout the year and emerged as one of the top five students in the class, earning me a spot on my chapter’s HSCC team. This is where the real work began as our team started to truly train for the competition. We spent many long hours studying together through the summer months. Our team went into the competition confident that we could do well, even though there was only one returning member from the previous year. We did very well despite our inexperience and took 2nd place. We came home happy but with a burning desire to do even better the following year.

My third year in BDPA seemed to go by quickly. The Southern Minnesota chapter had taken steps in streamlining the program and by now nothing was unfamiliar to me. I was once again chosen as an HSCC team member and the other team members were all very capable and experienced. We knew we hadn’t proved anything yet, but we were confident that we had what it took to win. This was exactly what we did, as we took the first place prize in 2007.

BDPA has been a central part of my life and has had a profound effect on me over the last four years. As I head off to Rice University, I am doing so with the goal of majoring in Computer Science, mostly due to the influence of BDPA and web programming. Competing in the HSCC competition is by no means an easy thing to excel at and I am thankful to have found success in it. I am extremely glad to have been a part of the Southern Minnesota chapter, and I look forward to being involved in BDPA in the future.

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Kunle wrote this testimonial before the 2008 national BDPA HSCC held earlier this month in Atlanta. His team defended their national championship! Share some love with Kunle in the COMMENTS section below! What say u?

2008 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Rankings

The 2008 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships were held in Atlanta GA. We had 23 teams competing in 2008 ... highest chapter participation since the 2004 competition.

The tension during the 2 days of the competition centered around the team trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter. This chapter won 2 of the past 3 national competitions and arrived in Atanta as the defending champions.

The talent and training of the Rochester MN team proved to be unstoppable ... BDPA Southern Minnesota earned and all-time record score of 1,038 points to win the 2008 National HSCC championship ... their 3rd championship in the past 4 years. In fact, the same five students (Yaa Kwansa, Ahmed Mahamad, Lauren Pemberton, Kunle Roberts and Adwait Walimbe) came back to win their second consecutive national HSCC championship under the direction of their coach (Zack Garbow) and chapter president (Nat Calvert).

BDPA Washington DC scored the best score in chapter history with 892 points to come in second place. BDPA Chicago scored 873 points to earn the bronze medal. The rest of BDPA-nation will need to step up their game in order to compete with Southern Minnesota, Washington DC and Chicago in the 2009 competition.

Here are the rankings for all 23 teams that competed in 2008 national HSCC championships with the scholarship winnings for each student in parenthesis:

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

Our foundation seeks to increase the number of students that receive Bemley Scholarships in 2009 and beyond. To do so, we need your help. Please consider making an online donation to help us interest young people in science and technology.

Finally, I encourage you to share your thoughts and memories of the 2008 National BDPA Conference held in Atlanta GA with others in this online community.

HSCC Alumni Earn the BDPA Scholarships Sponsored by Bank of America

The BDPA Foundation is proud to announce two winners of the 2008 BDPA Scholarships sponsored by Bank of America.

Lee Reed (Walter Payton College Prep '08) and Kunle Roberts (Mayo Senior High School '08) selected by the Bank of America scholarship committee to each receive $2,500 scholarship that may be used to pursue an information technology related degree at an accredited two or four-year college or university of their choice.

Lee Reed is a 4-time member of the national BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team trained by our BDPA Chicago chapter. Lee's team won the 2006 national championship and followed up the next year with a bronze medal in the 2007 championship. Lee plans to attend the University of Michigan later this year.

Kunle Roberts is a 2-time member of the national HSCC team trained by our BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter. Kunle's team won the 2007 national championship after taking home the silver medal in the 2006 championship. Kunle plans to attend Rice University later this year.

The BDPA Scholarship sponsored by Bank of America recognizes outstanding students of color, with an interest in information technology who make significant contributions to society. Applicants must excel academically, show exceptional leadership potential and make an impact through service to their communities.

Our understanding is that both Lee and Kunle will use their BDPA Scholarships to supplement benefits from the academic institution a student plans to attend and fellowships from other foundations or organizations. Students may use the scholarship to cover the cost of tuition, fees, books, room and board and other college-related expenses.

Please take a moment to share some BDPA love with both Lee and Kunle for their outstanding achievements!

2007 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Rankings

The 2007 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships were held in Washington DC. We had 21 teams competing in 2007 ... highest chapter participation since the 2004 competition.

The crowds gathered around these 21 teams to see if the team trained by BDPA Chicago could defend their 2006 title or whether the team trained by BDPA Southern Minnesota would resume their national dominance or if another chapter would upset them both.

As it turned out the power of the young men and women from Rochester, MN was too much ... BDPA Southern Minnesota earned 774 points to win the 2007 National HSCC championship ... their 3rd championship in the past 3 years. It was a remarkable effort by four truly remarkable young people (Yaa Kwansa, Ahmed Mahamad, Lauren Pemberton, Kunle Roberts and Adwait Walimbe), their coach (Zack Garbow) and chapter president (Francis Aning).

The host team from Washington DC set a chapter record in the national competition when they scored 754 points for the silver-medal. BDPA Chicago chapter scored 753 points to earn a bronze medal.

Here are the rankings for all 21 teams that competed in 2007 national HSCC championships with the scholarship winnings for each student in parenthesis:

1. Southern Minnesota ($3,000 Bemley Scholarship for each student)
2. Washington DC ($2,000 each)
3. Chicago ($1,500 each)
4. Detroit ($1,000 each)
5. Chattanooga ($500 each)
6. Charlotte
7. Dayton
8. New Jersey
9. Los Angeles
10. Twin Cities
11. Dallas
12. Richmond
13. Hartford
14. Cincinnati
15. Austin
16. St. Louis
17. Philadelphia
18. New York
19. Greater Tampa Bay
20. Cleveland
21. Columbus

Our foundation seeks to increase the number of students that receive Bemley Scholarships in 2009 and beyond. To do so, we need your help. Please consider making an online donation to help us interest young people in science and technology.

Were you at the 2007 National BDPA Technology Conference held in Washington DC? Do you remember the HSCC championships? Do you remember any of the workshops or speakers from that year's conference? Care to share your favorite memory of that conference with us?