2018 BDPA Computer Camp Intro (BDPA Cincinnati)

This video provides and introduction to the 2018 BDPA Computer Camp hosted by the BDPA Cincinnati Chapter. This is the starter camp for student training in the chapter. The initial camp provides an introduction to a number of technologies. Students who complete this camp can move on to more advanced training.

For more information on the computer camp you can reach out to Computer Camp coordinator Frank Hill.

BDPA Cincinnati Computer Camp Orientation (2017)

Frank Hill (Cincinnati State) lead the BDPA Cincinnati Computer Camp Orientation on January 14, 2017. There were over 30 people in attendance for the orientation including four of our past High School Computer Competition (HSCC) students. BDPA Cincinnati plans to host the computer camp for the next 13 weeks thru April 8, 2017.

Here is the deck that Frank used at the orientation:

BDPA Cincinnati Computer Camp Orientation (2017) from Entrepreneurial Engagement Ohio

Frank reminded the audience,

"All, for my 18th consecutive year with BDPA, I got to interact with a new group of talented students with a bright future in front of them. I personally get a lot of energy and hope for the future when I work with young students. I additionally get joy when I see them succeed in life. BDPA can't take all of the credit for this, however, I think we are a building block. Adam Goines, one of our students last year and a freshman at University of Dayton, just got his first patent. Adam's mother who is an administrator at Cincinnati State introduced me to him two years ago. He stopped by my classroom a number of times to discuss technical projects that he was working on. Last year he joined the camp and received our training. We still have discussions on how to use micro-controllers for his projects at the University of Dayton.

For many Black students, we are the next best thing to getting a "leg-up" in a ever increasing technological society. The robot revolution will be in full force within the next five years. The great discussion about how to keep traditional manufacturing jobs in the USA is futile. I say this a lot to my students at Cincinnati State. The entire world is on a path to automation and our population is behind the curve.

I see my role for my remaining time on the earth as helping people, especially young people with the transition. I encourage all of you to make that direct connection with young lives. It makes a big difference in how they turn-out in life. I had people perform that function for me and for the past 40 years, I have had a strong desire to "pay it forward". Lastly BDPA is the organization that performs this function best. I checked!"

You can help these students by making a secure online donation in support of BDPA Cincinnati! We hope you can schedule some time to visit these students over the coming Saturdays. Just click here to let us know you'll be in attendance!

Seeking Students for BDPA Cincinnati Computer Camp

2015 BDPA Cincinnati Computer Camp

BDPA Computer Camp is recruiting students in the greater Cincinnati area for its 2016 program. The program helps students explore the world of information technology, while laying a solid foundation for future collegiate and professional careers. The program has an intensive training curriculum for 8th – 12th grade students. The program prepares students to compete in the Regional and the National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) annually.

All new and previous students, as well as their parents or guardian, should meet with the BDPA Computer Camp committee on January 9, 2016 from 9 am – 2 pm. Please click here to apply.

BDPA High School Computer Camp (Cincinnati) from Entrepreneurial Engagement Ohio

Please email bdpa-camp@bdpa-cincy.org for more information and details! Or you can call BDPA Cincinnati chapter on (513) 549-6991.

BDPA Cincinnati Launches 2015 High Technology STEM Initiative

BDPA Cincinnati chapter announces the opening of the 2015 Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) program. The SITES program offers cutting edge STEM training to areas High School and College Students. 2015 is the 19th year for SITES program. The program will begin on January 10th at Cincinnati State Technical College. Students can preview the program content and complete the application for training sessions on the www.bdpa-camp.org web site. The SITES program contain a number of distinct offerings for students and opportunities to win college scholarships

Computer Camp – a disciplined 13-week program for students in 8th through 12th grades. The computer camp covers Visual Basic Applications, Mobile Phone Applications, Web Development, Programming Automation Controllers, Robotics, 3D Printing, Internet Of Things, Information Technology Theory and History, and Professional Development. This training provides students with IT theory and hands-on activities as well as exposure to leading technical professionals in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas.

High School Computer Competition (HSCC) -The BDPA National High School Computer Competition, was founded in 1986 by Dr. Jesse Bemley, of Washington, D.C. What started as a two-team event between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, GA. has grown to over 20 teams of various high school students from within the 46 chapters across the nation. It's designed to introduce our youth to the field of Information Technology, challenge their learnings, encourage them to seek higher levels of education, and groom many of them to become our next generation of IT professionals. HSCC is a 28-week program that prepares students to compete in a 3 step competition that demonstrates IT prowess. The competition consists of an oral component, a written component, and a very competitive programming component. Students are taught to master ASP.NET Programming, JavaScript Programming, Structured Query Language, MySQL Database and Microsoft Visual Studio in a succinct and efficient manner. Students will have the ability to develop a complete database driven application in seven hours after completing this training. Additionally, students are coached on working effectively in teams, team building, leadership, and academic discipline. The top winners of this competition are awarded scholarships at the National BDPA Conference in addition to any local chapter recognition or awards.

IT Showcase – The BDPA Information Technology Showcase allows student presenters from educational institutions across the United States, to present and demonstrate their research. The presentations represent advanced computing and technical topics presented by college and high school students to an audience of corporate representatives and IT professionals. IT professionals and educator mentor students and help them prepare for a national competition. Top students are awarded scholarships at the National BDPA Conference.

Mobile Application Showcase - The National BDPA Mobile Application Showcase allows student application developers the opportunity to participate in a competition that allows them to an opportunity to test their talents against others and develop a working, functional Mobile Application, at no cost to themselves. The applications being showcased will represent three different application categories (i.e. business, personal productivity, and gaming). Each category will have stringent requirements to be met in advance to the showcase. The top winners of this showcase are awarded scholarships at the National BDPA Conference.

BDPA Cincinnati had an exceptional training year in 2014 which culminated in students winning $15,625 in scholarships for their performance at the 2014 National BDPA Conference. The chapter is looking forward to an even greater training year in 2015 engaging more minority students and bringing even greater rewards back to Cincinnati.

BDPA Cincinnati Launches 2015 Technology Initiative for High School Students

BDPA Cincinnati chapter announces the opening of the 2015 Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) program. The SITES program offers cutting edge technology training to areas High School and College Students. 2015 is the 19th year for SITES program in Cincinnati. The program will begin on January 10, 2015 at Cincinnati State Technical College. Students can preview the program content and complete the application for training sessions on the www.bdpa-camp.org web site.

The SITES program contains four (4) opportunities for students to win college scholarships:

Computer Camp - a disciplined 13 week program for students in 8th thru 12th grades. The computer camp covers Visual Basic Applications, Mobile Phone Applications, Web Development, Programming Automation Controllers, Robotics, 3D Printing, Internet Of Things, Information Technology Theory, Computer History, and Professional Development. This training provides students with IT theory and hands-on activities as well as exposure to leading technical professionals in the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky areas.

High School Computer Competition (HSCC) - National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) was founded in 1986. It's designed to introduce our youth to the field of Information Technology, challenge their learnings, encourage them to seek higher levels of education, and groom many of them to become our next generation of IT professionals. HSCC is a 28-week program that prepares students to compete in a 3-part competition (oral, written and programming) that demonstrates IT prowess. Students are taught to master ASP.NET Programming, JavaScript Programming, Structured Query Language (SQL), MySQL Database and Microsoft Visual Studio in a succinct and efficient manner. Students are coached on working effectively in teams, team building, leadership, and academic discipline. The top performers in this competition are awarded college scholarships at the National BDPA Conference in addition to any local chapter recognition or awards.

IT Showcase - The BDPA Information Technology (IT) Showcase allows high school (and college) students to present and demonstrate their research. The presentations represent advanced computing and technical topics presented to an audience of African American PhDs. Top students are awarded college scholarships at the National BDPA Conference.

Mobile Application Showcase - The National BDPA Mobile Application Showcase allows students to test their talents developing a working Mobile Application that can run on an Android platform. The applications being showcased represent business, personal productivity or gaming. Each category will have stringent requirements to be met in advance to the showcase. The top winners of this showcase are awarded college scholarships at the National BDPA Conference.

BDPA Cincinnati students earned $16,525 in college scholarships during 2014. BDPA seeks new high school students in each of these programs in 2015. Contact the chapter by email (cincinnati@bdpa.org), phone (513.549-6991) or the web (www.bdpa-camp.org) for more details.

VIDEO: 'Your Future in IT Starts Today'

There are upwards of 500 students engaged in BDPA computer camps around the nation on any given weekend. Here is a video that can be shared with each of those students and their parents during orientation. This video production is the creation of BDPA Twin Cities chapter leader Michael Wulf.



What did you think of Michael's video vignette?

Brotherly Love: Teaching Tech to High School Kids

Repost from CBS affiliate in Philadelphia!



By Ukee Washington

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – President Obama has been encouraging high school students to major in engineering, science, or math. Now, a group of minority tech professionals has decided to take that one step further by giving weekend lessons to the next generation.

In a computer lab at DeVry University in Center City, students are practicing the finer points of computer coding.

Daneel Douglas, a senior at Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter High School, joked, “They say there are two different kinds of people in this world: those that know binary and those that don’t. And I can say I know binary!”

Every computer runs on zeros and ones, but someone has to tell it what to do. That’s what these students are learning at this free programming class held every Saturday morning by tech professional organization BDPA, which stands for Black Data Processing Associates.

Eileen Gadsden

“We don’t think they’re going to be programmers over the 44-week course,” said Eileen Gadsden, president of BDPA Philadelphia. “What we want them to do is like it enough that they choose it in college, and then make it a profession.”

BDPA Philadelphia encourages STEM fields: science, technology, engineering and math.

Phillip Easton, a senior at Central High School, said, “I want to either be an accountant or go into computer science.”

“I wasn’t really into computers at first, but then I noticed it can get me a lot of opportunities,” said Jasmine Beard, a junior at Central High School.

Jerry Wargo, the campus president of DeVry University Philadelphia, said, “It’s just a perfect fit for them to come in on Saturday morning, when most kids are sleeping, and practice and learn.”

Tech professionals volunteer to teach the students, who help each other, too.

Norman Morrison, a senior at Philadelphia Military Academy, said, “If you need help coding something, you just ask your neighbor.”

James Gadsden went through the program in high school. “It’s kind of, in a way, like school. You have to make sure you keep up with your assignments,” he said.

Now, James uses those skills at the Community College of Philadelphia, where he is studying mass media communications, thanks at least in part to those Saturday mornings in the lab.

The students will also compete at a national technology competition later this year.

So far, 100 percent of the students in the program have gone on to college.

To find out more about BDPA, visit: www.BDPAPhilly.org

BDPA Computer Camp: Los Angeles (2013)

BDPA Los Angeles chapter won the bronze medal at the national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship last year. They are not satisfied. They want to win the whole thing this year ... and they are beginning right away!

BDPA Computer Camp: Los Angeles (2013) from Wayne Hicks

BDPA Los Angeles chapter used this presentation package to recruit 7th thru 12th grade students for participation in their 2013 computer camp leading up to the selection of a team to participate in this year's national High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship to be held later this year in Washington DC.

Contact BDPA Los Angeles chapter (hsccla@yahoo.com) if you have questions or wish to discuss further.

Best Practices for BDPA Computer Camps (Los Angeles)

BDPA chapters around the nation are ramping up their Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) programs for 2013. One component of the SITES program is a computer camp for high school students that takes place on Saturdays with volunteer instructors.

 One of the fastest-growing computer camps is hosted by BDPA Los Angeles chapter. BDPA Los Angeles chapter president John Malonson recently shared some of the 'best practices' used by his chapter:

John Malonson

1. Google Services - Use Google Docs Forms to create registration forms (the back-end spreadsheet can then be easily shared and viewed by whomever you'd like to have access). Believe me, it makes the registration process super easy and hassle free. The form can be used to track volunteers and trainers as well. Here's an example of our form from this year -- http://www.bdpa.org/members/group_content_view.asp?group=71844&id=173042
2. Radio advertisement when it's time to fill the pipeline - Our students that took us to the #3 spot last year are in or close to their last year of eligibility so it was time to glut the incoming pipeline. We advertised on a well-known African American LA radio station (KJLH 102.3) which led to 80% of our incoming class and indirectly served the benefit of advertising our organization. Here's our Radio script - https://docs.google.com/document/d/124r9ZWCm0ObwrUE7IIOObqINC8D7ni3MvE9xCMLMJvg/edit
3. Personal Contact - I personally fielded over a hundred calls of people interested in the program even though the registration fee is $125 for our program. To increase membership, my vision was to basically make the program free for parents and students that are members of BDPA (i.e $100 for adult membership, $25 for student membership). If you don't have one already, you should consider signing up for a Google Voice account since it transcribes voice-mails for you and sends them to your inbox.
4. Class Schedule - This year we divided the program into 2 tracks (Beginner 12-2pm and Advanced 10-12pm). Our advanced track is primarily for returners so they don't get bored going over stuff they already know. Our program runs from Feb 2nd thru May 11th. Then we'll select our team and will work with them up until the conference.
5. Finding Trainers / Volunteers - This is the most difficult part. General administrative trainers can be pulled from the parent population if need be. For technical trainers, you basically need to be finding and recruiting them 24/7/365. We found a few by joining Meetup.com groups that catered to our technology platform (HTML , CSS, PHP, etc). First you get friendly with these groups, THEN you start asking for volunteers to help out with "a wonderful program that will suit their talents and develop their leadership abilities".
6. Topics to be taught this year: - Mobile Development (Android); HTML / CSS; PHP / MySQL; JQuery

Hope that helps!
John Malonson, president
BDPA Los Angeles Chapter

BDPA Computer Camp (Washington DC)

We are recruiting high school students for meaningful STEM experiences in the greater Washington DC area. See the following flyer for details ... and please share with any of your DC-based associates.

BDPA Computer Camp: Washington DC (2013) from Wayne Hicks

Message from Richmond Chapter HSCC Coordinator

Candace Johnson-Hamlin

Greetings,

BDPA Richmond chapter is pleased to announce the start of its Annual High School Computer Competition (HSCC) Program. The goal of this exciting training and competition is to increase youth interest in Information Technology. The chapter is now recruiting rising 9th to 12th grade students to enroll in its Youth Technology HSCC Program.

The program provides an environment where high school students have an opportunity to compete on an academic level and showcase their technical skills and creativity. Selected students receive several weeks of introductory and advanced training in computer technologies such as HTML, ASP.NET, and relational databases. Students also gain essential skills such as presentation delivery and teamwork.

At the conclusion of the program, selected students will represent BDPA Richmond in the National High School Computer Competition, which will be held at the National BDPA Conference on August 1-4, 2014 in Baltimore, Maryland. The competition team will enjoy an all-expense paid trip to the conference with an opportunity to win college scholarships.

BDPA Richmond Computer Camp (2012)

View more documents from BDPA Foundation

If you are interested in having your students participate in our program please forward this information on to all of your technology teachers so that they can direct students to our program. If you have any questions or need additional information, email me or give me a call at (804) 432-3465. Also, feel free to attend our kickoff program on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at ECPI College of Technology located at 4305 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA, at 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Sincerely,
Candace Johnson-Hamlin, HSCC Coordinator
BDPA Richmond Chapter

Message from Triangle Chapter HSCC Coordinator

Dear BDPA Member or Friend:

Valerie Johnson

The Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) program has been in existence for 25 years. This is an intensive program designed to identify, select and foster professional and computer programming skills of 9th through 12th graders.

The goal of the SITES program is to teach students how to use computer software to solve business problems. Students will be coached on how to conduct themselves in a professional manner. They will learn how to analyze a problem, and design and implement a solution. They will learn how to lead and participate as effective members of a team.

Our instructors are Information Technology professionals from top notch local area companies such as Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, SAS, State of North Carolina State Auditors Department, Deutsche Bank, Yorel Integrated Solutions and N2NetSecurity. Students will also have the opportunity to meet Senior level IT Executives and Chief Information Officers from area fortune 1000 corporations.

Training for the SITES program will be held each Saturday (March 5 thru May 21, 2011) at St. Augustine's College from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Students chosen to participate in the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) will have additional training June through July 2011, and be eligible to participate in the regional competition. Three to five students will also have major expenses paid to attend the 33rd National BDPA Technology Conference & HSCC Championship to be held in Chicago, Illinois August 3-6, 2011.

There is a $50.00 lab fee to participate in the program. Full and partial scholarships are available (provided by Generations Community Credit Union), and two (2) students will receive a $500 college scholarship award from BDPA Triangle Chapter. Students are eligible to earn even more scholarship money during the national competition. Scholarships awarded at the conference provide for an additional $2,500 for 1st place!

Register Now!

For more information, eligibility requirements and registration, please visit our web site: http://www.bdpatriangle.org or call (919) 425-2107.

Warm Regards,
Valerie Y. Johnson
HSCC Coordinator