Sharon Shaw Wins 2015 BDPA Epsilon Award for Community Service

National BDPA annually selects and awards the BDPA Epsilon Award to recognize and celebrate key contributions and accomplishments of its members. Nominations are accepted across five categories and they are evaluated by a team of National BDPA members. One of the categories is Career Achievement. This honor is reserved for people who have significant demonstration, by meaningful results, strong partnership and collaboration with entities in the communities they reside.

BDPA is pleased to announce that Sharon Shaw has won the 2015 Epsilon Award for Community Service. She was a protocol officer for the Navy Information Dominance Forces. Her nomination was submitted by Lt. Duane Motley, commander, US Naval Forces. He wrote,

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"Ms. Shaw’s impressive managerial capability, positive leadership, and exception attitude propel her as a role model for military, civilian, and youths and capture the true spirit of community service. She is a superb leader who sets the standards that inspire and motivate peers and subordinates to excel.

Since 2000, she has unselfishly led NCTAMS LANT’s award winning (local and federal level) Drug Education For Youth (DEFY) mentoring program that promotes stability by providing 9-12 year olds the life skills necessary to deter at-risk behaviors associated with substance abuse, gangs, and other negative influences. DEFY develops youth through drug education, leadership, character development, positive role model mentoring, and community outreach to enhance quality of life for military personnel and their families. Each year 90+ youth participants and 120 mentors, guest speakers, and community leaders spent over 5,250 hours mentoring the kids. Organized volunteers to participate in three community relations events to promote DEFY.

Additionally, she is the Interim First Vice President and Second Vice President of the Newport News-Hampton Chapter of the Continental Societies, an organization dedicated to creating environments that empower children to have access to quality and appropriate opportunities to reach their optimal potential. Ms. Shaw and the Continentals spent over 3,000 raising funds for scholarships (10 $1000 scholarships); supported the Program for Educating Exception Preschoolers providing monthly donations of diapers, underwear, socks and soap powder to local children; donated 11 boxes of diapers, underwear, and socks; partnered with the Newport News Police Department and Hampton-Newport News Community Services Board to provide book bags and school supplies to 2,000 children; partnered with the Ridley Circle After School Program to implement an after-school program, provide school supplies and backpacks, and formed a reading circle; and organized a Career Pathways initiative for the Newport News Public School system to expose students to grade-appropriate career development experiences.

Sharon personally adopted a homeless family of six. She assisted them in search for a home and took it upon herself to become a mentor to the 9, 10, and 13 year old children."

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BDPA is very proud to honor the works of Sharon Shaw! We are glad that she won this 2015 Epsilon Award!

US Naval Academy Summer STEM Program

Applications are now being accepted through April 15 for the United States Naval Academy Summer STEM Program. The Summer STEM Program is an overnight academic program designed for rising eighth-through 11th-grade students in good academic standing who have an interest in math and science. The program gives students the opportunity to experience real-life application of math and science principles through hands-on practical learning. The academy's current students, midshipmen, help run the Summer STEM Program and act as mentors to students.

The Summer STEM Program is held in three sessions: June 2-7 for rising eighth- and ninth-graders; June 9-14 for rising 10th-graders and June 16-20 for rising 11th-graders.

All students selected to participate pay approximately $350 for the summer program and are responsible for providing their own transportation to and from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Applicants will be notified of their application status by May 1.

For more information about the Summer STEM Program and the application process, visit www.usna.edu/Admissions/stem.html or call 410-293-1858.

BDPA Partners with US Navy to Create More Officers and Gentle(wo)men

The US Navy agreed to participate in the 2013 BDPA Technology Conference as part of its Diversity and Student Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) outreach programs. The Navy Recruiting Command is taking the lead for this event with a focus on workshops for students, parents and industry which foster year round engagement with BDPA for youth interested in STEM careers. Also, the Navy Recruiting Command will coordinate the presentation of their booth at the BDPA Career Fair on August 16-17, 2013 in Washington DC.

There is a rich history between BDPA and the US Navy. In 2010, Admiral Gary Roughead, then Chief Naval Officer, invited BDPA co-founder Earl Pace to the Pentagon to discuss expanded partnership between Navy and BDPA. Adm. Roughead felt Navy should expand its outreach engagements with BDPA over the next few years as BDPA is the only cyber-focused affinity group identified by the Navy.  This increased partnership now includes expanded year-round STEM-Intelligence/Cyber engagements with local BDPA chapters.

Earlier this year, Raven Stevenson, one of the alumni members of the BDPA High School Computer Competition program graduated from Duke University as a Navy Ensign becoming the organization's first student member to do so. Raven attended Duke University on a full Navy ROTC scholarship (valued at $180,000) that she earned at the 2009 BDPA Technology Conference.  Raven tells the story best herself in this video!

Another BDPA HSCC alumni student, Joseph Huggins, Jr. is on the journey as well. He agreed to join the US Navy in 2010.

BDPA looks forward to supporting the efforts of the Navy to identify additional information technology talent ... both seasoned professionals and young people ... during our upcoming conference. Kudos to BDPA account manager Perry Carter and National Office administrator Lesley Menor for working with the Navy to see this sponsorship renewal through to its conclusion.

Message from BDPA Greater Columbia Past Chapter President

Paulette and Raven

BDPA Members and Friends,

BDPA Greater Columbia chapter president Mildred Allen and I were honored to be present at the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Commissioning ceremony on Friday, May 10th at the Duke University Chapel, Duke University, in Durham, NC. Raven Stevenson, a graduate of our local High School Computer Competition (HSCC) training program, was commissioned in the United States Navy on Friday, and she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Duke University on Sunday. What an outstanding set of achievements!

You may remember Raven as the HSCC student who won the $180,000 scholarship in 2009 while competing at the HSCC competition in Washington, DC. Her fellow team members were Dominique Geiger and Sami Patel.

L-R: Rick Leggett, Paulette Johnson-Davis, Perry Carter, Mildred Allen, Ensign Raven Stevenson, Monique Berry and Carl Hill

After the Commissioning Ceremony, the BDPA Triangle Chapter hosted a reception for Raven and her family at the First Flight Venture Center in Durham, NC. The reception was attended by members of Raven’s family, National BDPA president Monique Berry, as well as by members of the BDPA Triangle, BDPA Washington DC and BDPA Greater Columbia Area chapters.

Ensign Stevenson will report in August 2013 to CG 66 USS HUE CITY in Mayport, Florida. We congratulate Raven on her outstanding accomplishments and wish her every success in the future.

Sincerely,
Paulette Johnson-Davis
Vice President of Business Management
BDPA Greater Columbia Area Chapter

BDPA HSCC Alum Raven Stevenson Becomes a Naval Officer

This BDPA Education and Technology Foundation blog first introduced Raven Stevenson back in 2009. She was a member of the High School Computer Competition team trained by BDPA Greater Columbia chapter to compete in the 2009 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship. During that week Raven met with representatives from the US Navy ... and on the final night of the 2009 National BDPA Technology Conference, Raven accepted a full ride scholarship to Duke University using a Navy ROTC scholarship. Raven shared her story with us on the BDPA iRadio Show back in December 2011.

Fast forward to 2013. Midshipman Stevenson is a Neuroscience major and plans to attend medical school after completing the Navy's Basic Division Officer's Course and the Advanced Ship Handling and Tactics course required for Surface Warfare Officer qualifications. Midshipman First Class Stevenson will join her Navy and Marine Corps shipmates later this month during a formal Naval Officer Commissioning Ceremony for at the Duke University Chapel.

BDPA Triangle chapter will host a reception to honor Raven and her family on Friday, May 10, 2013.  Contact BDPA South Region director Teresa Williams (teresa.williams@bdpa.org) or BDPA Triangle chapter president Carl Hill (carl.hill@gtscloud.com) if you are interested in attending the BDPA reception.

If you are unable to attend in person, then perhaps you can help us provide college scholarships to the next generation of young people coming from Raven's home chapter in South Carolina. Visit the BDPA Greater Columbia HSCC Scholarship Fund and do what you think is best!

BDPA Philadelphia Supports Pennsylvania MESA Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony

BDPA seeks to advance the careers of African Americans in the Information Technology (IT) industry from the classroom to the boardroom. An important element of that process is ensuring that our young people have exposure and experience to as many STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs as possible.

As such, it was a no-brainer for our BDPA Philadelphia chapter leadership to attend the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the nationally-recognized Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) initiative in Pennsylvania. MESA is an academic preparation program for K-12, community college and university-level students that was originally created in 1970. The program provides academic support to students from educationally disadvantaged backgrounds throughout the education pathway so they will excel in math and science and ultimately attain four-year degrees in STEM fields. The program has successfully been replicated in over a dozen other states.

BDPA Philadelphia chapter president Eileen Gadsden and chapter vice president Charles Ireland attended the ribbon cutting ceremony held on August 27th at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. There are over 50 students enrolled in MESA ... and our hope is that some of them will find their way to BDPA over the coming weeks and months. We also want to ensure that BDPA students are fully aware of MESA as an option for their consideration in the future.

"It was a truly awesome event to see so many students committed to studying medicine, engineering and technology," said BDPA president Gadsden.

A number of other dignitaries were at the event, including Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter, past BDPA conference keynoter and current chief of Naval operations Admiral Gary Roughead, special assistant to the CNO for diversity Dr. Cynthia Macri and Temple University's Dr. Jamie Bracey.

Admiral Roughead spoke about the Navy's ability to have a global impact due to a strong educational foundation and its continued efforts to stay on the forefront of technological advances.

Our BDPA leaders at the event were able to cultivate some strategic relationships that will result in an expansion of the chapter's 2012 Student IT Education and Scholarship (SITES) program to include cyber-security and healthcare components.

This blog encourages BDPA chapters in California and Maryland to follow the lead of BDPA Philadelphia. Make a connection with California MESA or Maryland MESA. Once you've made the connection ... follow the lead of BDPA Philadelphia chapter and find a way to get engaged with MESA. It is a wonderful opportunity for a STEM-based strategic alliance!

Summer Program for High School Students: Science and Engineering Apprenticeship with US Navy

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is working with others to create a powerful strategic alliance in 2011 with the Department of Navy. One way that we can help is to raise awareness of Navy programs that would be of interest to BDPA student members.

For example, do you know a high school student who is interested in science and engineering and is looking for an apprenticeship next summer? If so, please let him or her know about the 2011 Science and Engineering Apprenticeship (SEAP) Program.

Applications for SEAP must be submitted between now and January 7, 2011. The eight week summer program begins June 20, 2011 and ends August 12, 2011.

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) provides an opportunity for students to participate in research at a Department of Navy (DoN) laboratory during the summer.

The goals of SEAP are to encourage participating students to pursue science and engineering careers, to further their education via mentoring by laboratory personnel and their participation in research, and to make them aware of DoN research and technology efforts, which can lead to employment within the DoN.

SEAP provided competitive research internships to 247 high school students this year. Participating students spend eight weeks during the summer doing research at approximately 20 DoN laboratories.

BDPA New York HSCC Team Meets Chief of Naval Operations

Student finalists from BDPA New York Chapter High School Computer Competition Team speak with Admiral Gary Roughead, CNO, during the 35th annual BDPA Awards Gala Reception.

Pictured above (L-R) are Nicholas Reid, Kevin Rey Castillo, Cazemba Richards, and Alan Rosales with the Admiral.

HSCC Testimonial: Joseph Huggins, Jr. (BDPA Chicago)

Joseph Huggins Jr. graduated from high school earlier this year. He made the decision to accept a commission with the US Navy. He left on July 27th for the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, Rhode Island. There he will receive 10 months of extra academic and military training before being transferred to the Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Joseph earned Bemley Scholarships from BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) for his performance in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championships.

Joseph was kind enough to share his thoughts on the HSCC program with us:

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The day I first became a member of BDPA seems like ages ago, although it has only been five years since I first joined this program that has changed my life forever. My first year competing with the BDPA Chicago Chapter in the HSCC, I believe, was my best year. The year was 2006 and I remember walking to into a classroom and feeling intimidated by the amazing talent that surrounded me. Being only in 8th grade, I was one of the youngest students and was very shy. I knew I had my work cut out for me.

Surprisingly, the competition seemed to fade away as if it just disappeared into thin air. Somehow, after the long months of training, I found myself among the top five students selected to compete at the national conference. The Chicago Chapter took first place that year. I can remember the feeling I had that night as we were announced the first place champions of the BDPA National High School Computer Competition. Winning the national competition was one the greatest accomplishments of my life.

After my experience with BDPA in 2006, I decided to stick around and work hard in order to compete in the HSCC for the rest of my high school career. In the following three years I made the team and the Chicago Chapter placed in the top three winning teams two years in a row. I am not able to compete in the HSCC this year in 2010 due to my obligations to U.S. Navy. I have been accepted to the United States Naval Academy where I will study computer engineering and upon graduation will be a commissioned officer in the United States Navy or Marine Corps.

I would like to give thanks to the BDPA Foundation for expanding my knowledge of information technology and exposing me to the many great and amazing people I have met over the years. I would like to give special thanks to the people like Gibran McDuffie, Pamela Norfleet, Bryan Moore, Yvette Graham, and the host of other BDPA members and volunteers that have helped to shape me into the young man that I am today.

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Joe is a remarkable young man. Whenever you hear a BDPAer talking about our work in advancing careers from 'the classroom to the boardroom' you would do well to remember Joe as an example of  the classroom'!   You can celebrate Joe's story best with a secure online donation to the Bemley Scholarship Fund so that we can help more young squires in the future.

BDPA Student Members May Qualify For ROTC Scholarships

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) encourages interested BDPA student members that participate in the high school computer competition, youth technology camp or IT Showcase to check out some exciting cyber careers at participating universities.

Do you know of any high school senior interested in exciting STEM (Science.Technology.Engineer.Math) careers enhanced by Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) portfolios? If so, please encourage them (or their parents!) to visit the following sites to research available scholarships and background requirements to attend participating colleges and universities of their choice:

1. Air Force
2. Army
3. Coast Guard
4. Marine Corps
5. Navy
6. NSA

If qualified and interested, BDPA student members should reply to this post as soon as possible to let us know of their intent so the appropriate agency can be notified to work directly with them.

We also encourage any BDPA students with technology career ideas to check out the CyberCareer website to see innovative solutions for middle and high school IT career education.

Of course, all of these scholarship opportunities will be discussed in more detail in Philadlephia, July 28-31, 2010 during the National BDPA Technology Conference and Career Fair.

Captain Joycelin Robinson * Career Achievement Epsilon Award Winner

Captain Joycelin Robinson (US Navy) is one of the winners of the 2010 Epsilon Career Achievement Award presented by National BDPA and WorkplaceDiversity.com.

BDPA Epsilon Awards recognize individual achievement by technologists who are nominated by BDPA chapters or corporate sponsors.

Nominees for the Epsilon Career Achievement Award are individuals at or near the midpoint of their careers or beyond, but not close to retirement age, who have made significant achievements in technology or information technology in industry or government. The body of work of the nominee; its broad social and economic value and impact, and the nominee’s performance as a role model and mentor for people of color in technology are paramount in gaining career recognition.

US Navy Captain Joycelin (“Joyce”) Robinson is the first African American Female Commanding Officer of a Fleet and Industrial Supply Center. One of the Navy’s most challenging positions and part of a global logistics support enterprise, she was selected for this position out of an extremely competitive group of her peers. Her established and documented record of extraordinary and outstanding performance throughout her career of 23 years made her the ideal person to lead Fleet and Industrial Supply Center (FISC), Jacksonville.

An "Army Brat," Captain Robinson was born overseas in Orleans, France, but calls Wichita Falls, Texas home. After many moves around the country and overseas, she graduated from Matoaca High School in Chesterfield Virginia from where she received her appointment to the United States Naval Academy. Captain Robinson received her commission upon graduation from USNA in May 1987.

In her assignment as Commanding Officer, she guides and coordinates an ever-increasing range of supply and support services to 49 ships, over 400 aircraft, two industrial facilities and 19 shore installations throughout Navy Region Southeast and the Caribbean. Exercising over $54 Million in annual budget authorities, she maintains the public trust while directing the logistics efforts of over 700 employees to provide first class support during extraordinarily demanding events such as the devastations of the Haitian Earthquake and multiple region wide product and service functional realignments.

Captain Robinson holds a Master of Science in Acquisition and Contract Management from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey California. Her personal decorations include three Meritorious Service Medals and three Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medals.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) joins all of BDPA-Nation in congratulating Captain Robinson on her 2010 Career Achievement Epsilon Award. I hope that many BDPA members strongly consider careers in the US Navy!

I look forward to networking with Captain Robinson at the 32nd annual BDPA Technology Conference. How about you?

Navy Admiral Gary Roughead Will Keynote National BDPA Technology Conference

The 29th Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Gary Roughead, USN will be the guest of honor and keynote speaker at the annual premiere event of the National BDPA (NBDPA). This event will be held on July 31, 2010 at the Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Admiral Roughead will address this distinguished audience comprised of congressional leaders, senior staff, industry leaders, state and local government representatives, other uniformed and civilian senior
Department of Defense leaders, college interns and high school students from NBDPA Chapter cities, NBDPA Corporate Sponsors, and NBDPA members.





The Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) is the senior military officer of the Department of the Navy. Having earned the rank of four-star admiral, Admiral Roughead is responsible to the Secretary of the Navy for the command, utilization of resources and operating efficiency of the operating forces and shore activities for the Navy assigned by the Secretary. As a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), the CNO is the principal naval adviser to the President and to the Secretary of the Navy on the conduct of war, and is the principal adviser and naval executive to the Secretary on the conduct of activities of the Department of the Navy.

NBDPA will convene their 32nd Annual National BDPA Technology Conference, National High School Computer Competition (HSCC), National IT Showcase (ITSC), Youth Technology Camp, National Career Fair and Technology Expo from July 28 to July 31, 2010. The Marriott Downtown in Philadelphia, PA will serve as this year’s conference headquarters.

Grant Recipient: BDPA Greater Columbia ($850)

BETF provided an $850 grant to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program implemented by BDPA Greater Columbia chapter.

The funds helped the high school computer competition (HSCC) team trained by BDPA Greater Columbia to participate in the Southeast Regional Competition. The three students on the team (Dominique Geiger, Sami Patel, Raven Stevenson and Courtland Thomas) took home the silver medal at the regional event in Charlotte NC.

Later the team travelled to Raleigh NC to compete in the national championships. The team finished in 19th place.

However, an unexpected serendipity happened at the Awards Gala during the conference. The United States Navy offered a $180,000 scholarship for Raven Stevenson to study biomedical engineering at Duke University!

Please call BETF on (513) 284-4968 or email us if you want to make a tax-deductible pledge in support of the restricted Greater Columbia Chapter Fund.

US Navy Seeks Workforce Pipeline of STEM-Focused Students

It was obvious to me that the United States Navy was on a mission during the 2009 National BDPA Technology Conference held in Raleigh NC earlier this month. The Navy needs to ensure that the pipeline of young people going through the public education system is trained sufficiently in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum. Only a strong STEM-focused nation can work in the future Navy.

As such, it was truly wonderful to see the strong presence of the US Navy during workshops, career fair and the Awards Gala. Speaking engagements were conducted by Asst SECNAV BJ Penn, VADM Harry Harris (OPNAV N6), Mr. Terry Halvorsen (Deputy Commander, NETWARCOM), Mr. Bob Whitkop (Executive Director, NGEN), CAPT Kent Flowers (CO, NROTC Savannah State) and CDR Ben McNeal (Chief Engineer, NGEN). Each of these speakers provided a glimpse into the US Navy that was eye-opening for most BDPA attendees.

My hope is that BDPA and the Navy will continue to build on their strategic alliance. The BDPA Education & Technology Foundation (BETF) hopes to be useful in setting up this strong value-added relationship.


An immediate success story occured when a BDPA high school computer competition student, Raven Stevenson (shown in photo with BDPA Greater Columbia chapter teammates Sami Patel and Dominique Geiger) received a NROTC scholarship to study Bio-Medical Engineering at Duke University.

Other interesting ways that BETF can leverage a stronger relationship with the US Navy and BDPA's youth education programs:

• BDPA College Students transition to Navy commissions via the Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program
• Officer Candidate School and Naval Postgraduate School for college graduates in the information technology arena is to become Information Warfare officers to learn how to defend our nation from cyber warfare.
• High School members could go to Naval ROTC. Raven Stevenson earned her scholarship through the Immediate Selection Program for high school seniors with a 1250 SAT and other eligibility requirements. BDPA can send letters of endorsement on applicants with an SAT below 1250. Lower SAT candidates are selected through a selection board process. Does your chapter have any students with 1250 SAT score?
• Gaining admission into the Naval Academy is a more challenging process, but yields a significant reward. Some of the BDPA high school candidates may be offered Naval Academy Prep School which is a good deal and a direct path to an appointment. Don't be put off by the congressional appointment process. It is a process and there are a number of opportunities.

BDPA's youth education programs regularly engage with young people of Raven's stature and accomplishments. Methinks that we should be able to identify at least 10 other BDPA students from our HSCC Alumni. The opportunity should exist for many more NROTC scholarship presentations in the future. BETF plans to explore this opportunity with US Navy officials.

What is your view of the growing relationship between BDPA, BETF and the US Navy?