BETF Executive Director Wins BAM Award for Excellence in Education and Technology in North Carolina

I was surprised and honored to receive the following notice from the Blacks at Microsoft (BAM) folks down in North Carolina.

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You have been selected to receive the BAM Award for Excellence in Education & Technology, in celebration of our 20 Year Anniversary & BAM Minority Student Day (BMSD), which will be held February 11, 2010 at our Microsoft Charlotte Campus. Following the awards presentation, we invite you have lunch with our High School students from 12:00 Noon – 1:00 PM.

This Award recognizes four national and community leaders including yourself that have made significant contributions in the field of Education or Technology. Honorees include the following:

1. Dr. Ronald Carter, President, Johnson C. Smith University
2. Dr. Peter Gorman, Superintendent, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System
3. Wayne Hicks, Executive Director,  BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF)
4. Johnny Taylor, President/CEO, Thurgood Marshall College Fund & Ebony Power 100 Leaders in America for Academia

BMSD is a Microsoft signature program that give’s high school students the opportunity to learn about careers in technology, listen to executive speakers, connect with Microsoft employees, participate in hands-on computer demonstrations, cutting edge technologies, and learn about High School Internships and College Scholarships. The ultimate purpose of the event is to expose students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds to the exciting opportunities in the field of technology.

We anticipate 150+ High School students in attendance throughout the Carolinas Region, including media coverage.  As part of this event, we are also inviting students pursuing STEM careers from Central Piedmont Community College (CPCC), Johnson C. Smith University, and UNC Charlotte as participants.

One of our key highlights will be showing CPCC/UNC Charlotte as our Gaming & Simulation Division Winners of our Microsoft 2010 US Imagine Cup student competition. Imagine Cup is the world’s premier student technology competition hosted by Microsoft. Open to high school, college, and university students across the globe. Prior BMSD speakers have included: Bill Gates, Microsoft Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Steve Ballmer, CEO, Microsoft; and Mike Rucker, Retired NFL Carolina Panther & Pre-game Commentator as examples.

Microsoft Charlotte is one of 4 large field campuses outside of our Redmond, Washington headquarters. Most of our 1,250 employees who live and work in North Carolina support Fortune 500 and other enterprise customers and partners to provide sales, consulting, and support services for many of our Flagship Products and Developer Technologies. We work with more than 2,665 partner companies that build technology tools and services on the Microsoft platform, creating jobs and revenue in North Carolina. Since 2003, we have given and matched employee gifts totaling more than $62.5 million in cash, curriculum, software and volunteer hours in North Carolina.

We are pleased to announce that North Carolina is the first state in the nation to adopt a Microsoft IT Academy in all 628 NC High Schools. The program will give students the opportunity to learn in-demand software and technical skills as well as earn industry-recognized certification as a Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) or a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP).

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I am humbled by this honor. I look forward to visiting with BDPA supporters in Charlotte for the BAM Minority Student Day in February 2011.

The BDPA Insider - December 19, 2010

 

  What better way to start the day than with your weekly message from BDPA!

In this issue:

1. BDPA Newsletters from Chapters Around the Country
2. BDPA Seeks High School and College Students for 2011 IT Showcase
3. BDPA Students: Upload Files to CPanel (Zack Garbow)
4. Five Ways To Stand Out In The IT Career Community
5. Message from Atlanta Chapter President
6. Message from New York Chapter President
7. Message from New York Chapter President-Elect
8. National BDPA President - Welcome to our new website
9. Newman Networks News December 17th, 2010
10. Tablet PC + PowerPoint = Productivity
11. Why IT Jobs Are Never Coming Back

  Kudos to Milt Haynes for creating this weekly message.  It is much appreciated by BDPA-Nation! 

BDPA Teaches Technology to Teens in Baton Rouge

BlueCross BlueShield of Louisiana (BCBSLA) published the following article in their internal newsletter:

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BCBSLA employees and sisters Glenda Chappell (Senior Programmer Analyst, Actuarial Systems) and Billie Davis-Lomas (Senior Business Engineering Analyst, IT-Medical Management/Managed Care) spend their Saturday mornings preparing local teens for their futures in higher education and the workforce.

Billie Davis-Lomas, far left, and her sister and Blue Cross coworker Glenda Chappell, far right, pose with some of the teens they mentor through Black Data Processing Associates.

Chappell and Davis-Lomas work with an organization called BDPA Baton Rouge (BDPA-BR). Chappell is one of the chapter’s charter members. Both sisters have been involved in the organization for decades, serving in cities across the nation.

BDPA-BR provides hands-on computer training and skill-building exercises for local students. With an emphasis on team building, presentation skills and professional etiquette, each BDPA class is led by local volunteer mentors like Chappell and Davis-Lomas. Students are guided by their mentors to compete for scholarships at regional and national conferences, which are often attended by top-level executives from companies like Microsoft and QVC.

“We don’t just teach them computer skills. We teach them how to conduct themselves in a professional setting, which is something they can always use,” says Davis-Lomas.

“The students are very enthusiastic and eager to start creating projects,” Chappell adds. “It’s very rewarding to see them succeed.”

BDPA-BR is open to all middle- and high-school students, and the Baton Rouge chapter targets those considered “at-risk” because of socioeconomic factors.
BDPA-BR is a professional organization for information technology professionals, providing community service and professional development opportunities for its members. The group is open to those working in the IT field and other technology-focused careers.

If you are interested in supporting BDPA-BR, the organization is looking for members, volunteer instructors and financial support for supplies and conference fees. BDPA-BR is on Blue Cross’ list of qualified non-profit organizations for which the company will match financial gifts beginning at $100 (up to $1,500 annually).

To learn more about BDPA, visit their website or follow the group on Facebook or Twitter. You may also contact them by e-mail.

I have known Glenda and Billie for many years. BDPA Baton Rouge is lucky to have both of them as chapter leaders. I look for great things to come from Louisiana in the coming months and years!

This Week in BDPA (Dec 19-25)

BDPA has 45 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you will continue to support Our Cause!

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Dec 20: Cleveland - Networking, 'Annual Holiday Mixer'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

BDPA Students: Upload Files to CPanel (Zack Garbow)

Zack Sharing 411 about Computers!

We told you earlier about the success of Zack Garbow as the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) coordinator for BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter. Students on his teams in the past few years have earned over $50,000 from the Jesse Bemley Scholarship Fund administered by the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF). Whatever Zack is doing in Rochester, Minnesota is working ... and perhaps it's time for the other 44 chapters to look to him for some 'best practice' advice.

Zack recently wrote a comment on this blog about his goal for the upcoming year:

"I love your concept of 'One BDPA'. This year I'm releasing our custom teaching software to any other chapters who are interested, hosted and supported free of charge. The idea is that we can then have a single resource library where all chapters can share assignments, teaching documents, and videos and really raise the level of resources collectively."

Zack has created two videos for HSCC students so far:

1. HTML 1: Learning the Basics
2. HTML 1: Upload Files to CPanel

Is any other chapter willing to get on board with this 'One BDPA' effort?

Message from New York Chapter President

As I sat down to pen my last message as President of BDPA New York, I could not think of the last words or message to express. So I decided to review our photo album. Then the following words immediately came straight out of my heart - Thank You. A photo album has a beautiful way of reflecting memories. No matter what took place: good or bad, pictures tell a beautiful story.

Highlights of my administration are as follows:

1. SITES
   
   • Our SITES students participated in BDPA’s Regional and National Conferences via programs such as the High School Computer Competition, in which they placed in the top 10 for the past three years, as well as the Youth Technology Camp and IT Showcase. Special acknowledgment goes to National Grid and Sesame Flyers International, who always provided the resources to prepare our students for technical competitions.
   • A few of our SITES students were chosen for the unique opportunity to intern at Bank of New York and UBS.
   • Thanks to Dr. Jesse Bemley, our students received the chance of a lifetime -- the opportunity to attend the 2009 and 2010 Teragrid Computing Conference.
   
   
2. Communications
   
   • Our newsletter, HumanWARE, was revamped in Summer 2008 with a new look and feel.
   • Our website underwent a complete redesign in April 2008.
   • We expanded our communication reach by joining Crowdrise, Facebook and LinkedIn Network in 2009.
   
   
3. Community Outreach
   
   • We conducted workshops for the community during February for Black Family Technology Awareness Week and during October for National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
   • We partnered with nonprofit organizations to participate in events such as No Limits Career Day and Sisterhood: United We Inspire.
   • We developed or strengthened relationships with organizations and businesses such as the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, SmallbizTechnology.com, National Association of African Americans in Human Resources, The Web Academy, National Urban League, National Black MBA Association and B. Smith’s Restaurant.
   
   
4. Membership Events
   
   
   • Thanks to our members and supporters, we were able to conduct technical & professional presentations on such topics as Cloud Computing, Social Networking
     Strategies, The Role of IT in Voting, Turning a No into a Yes and Virtualization and Client Computing.
   • We provided social and networking opportunities to our membership with events such as our monthly Meet-n-Greet at B. Smith’s, Sing Harlem, Sing Theatre event, and Book Signing Party.
   
   
5. Sponsorship/Community Support
   
   • Thanks to our corporate sponsors and community supporters: UBS, JPMorgan Chase, DELBAC Inc and Yahoo! Employee Foundation, several BDPA members received employment opportunities and eighteen $500 scholarships were distributed to our SITES students.

Judaea is 'Lady in Red'

My success as President could not have happened without the support of my Executive Board, our members and our many supporters. Thank You and Thank You once again for allowing me to represent you as President of BDPA New York.

Best wishes, Good health, and Love,
Judaea Yarde Lane, President (2006-2010)
BDPA New York Chapter

BDPA Seeks High School and College Students for 2011 IT Showcase

One of the most remarkable BDPA programs is the IT Showcase. This program provides a showcase for talented young people that are the future faces of technology. BDPA is actively recruiting high school and college students to participate in the 2011 National IT Showcase in Chicago!

BDPA wants to take the IT Showcase to the next level in 2011. This year’s goal is to recruit 20 high school students and 20 college students! BDPA would like to encourage each chapter to identify qualified students. Register your students today.


Here is the Call for Presenters issued by the IT Showcase founder Dr. Jesse Bemley:

Call for Presenters: BDPA IT Showcase

View more documents from Wayne Hicks.

Please share this information with any high school or college student who you think will benefit from participation in the 2011 BDPA IT Showcase!

Newsletter: BDPA New York (Dec 2010)

Newsletter: BDPA New York (Dec 2010)

View more documents from BDPA Foundation.

Message from New York Chapter President-Elect

I would first like to thank Judaea for her years of diligent service to our chapter and to the National organization.

I am so excited and ready to run the 2011-2012 race by representing the BDPA New York chapter, which is truly a premiere organization for Information Technology professionals. I appreciate the new members that have accepted leadership positions in our chapter. Time is of the essence and 2011 is right around the corner. The baton has been passed to a new 2011 team and its time to run the relay. Below are some of the initiatives for 2011:

• January - our organization volunteers for Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Annual Wall Street Project. Kim Smith, our newly appointed VP of Membership Management, is currently seeking volunteers to attend and to participate in the career fair. This is an opportunity for us all to promote National BDPA and to support one of our members, Andrew Carr, Executive Director of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Please contact Kim at vpmm@bdpa-ny.org if interested.
• February - Black Family Technology Awareness Week (BFTAW). Please contact Cheryl Nedwell or Damon Holmes to join the BFTAW Committee. Meetings are every Tuesday at 9:00 pm. Email bftaw@bdpany.org if interested in joining the committee.
• March - We will be hosting an Information Technology and Emergency Management Symposium. The Symposium will explore and identify the links between emergency management partners and information technology.
• April – Program Meeting, Role of IT and Census
• May - CIO Forum, Meet and Greet
• June – Internet Week, Employment and Branding Forum, Meet and Greet
• August – National Conference, Summer Fundraiser, Scholarship Event
• September – Health and IT, General Membership Meeting, Meet and Greet
• October – Cyber Security Month
• November – Mobile Technology
• December – Computer Science Week, Holiday Celebration

As stated in my campaign platform, New York City is the center of the world and as you can see we have a number of programs planned in 2011. New York City deserves an organization for INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY professionals that’s as dynamic as the city. To achieve this, we must all work together to participate in and promote the goals and mission of BDPA.

I need you to attend our program meetings, support our fundraisers, volunteer as speakers, and to be mentors for our IT Showcase students. Please contact me at pres@bdpa-ny.org to discuss volunteer opportunities.

I, along with the 2011–2012 board, am looking forward to meeting you at the Holiday celebration on December 17, 2010 and working with you all in the coming year.

All the best,
Renetta A. English, President-Elect
BDPA New York Chapter

Message from Atlanta Chapter President

BDPA Atlanta Members and Friends,

Carter Hill

The chapter leadership board and I are busy formulating strategies for 2011 and beyond. Our primary focus for the coming month will be laying the ground work for our BDPA 3.0 initiative that will be officially launched at our January meeting. One other point of focus for our team has been the addition of two new board members to our chapter. Therefore I am proud to announce the following changes to our local leadership board:

1. Lavonda Lloyd (Costco) has joined our board as the new Vice President of Membership Management. In this role she will be responsible for maintaining accurate records of our membership. She will also be working with our national VP of Membership Management Mildred Allen to ensure that all members have access to all of their rights and privileges. Lavonda is a recent graduate of Keller Graduate School and holds an MBA with a concentration in Project Management. Lavonda has served as our interim VP of Member Management for the past 4 months and has done an exceptional job. She replaces Desiree Plummer who held this position earlier this year.
2. Phyllis Ferguson (Strategic Perfection) has joined our board as our new Vice President of Public Relations & Marketing. In this role she will be responsible for the teams that create marketing strategies, materials and spearhead our social media strategy. She will also work with our national corporate sales team. Phyllis is a graduate of DeVry University and holds a Bachelors degree in Computer Science. She also an experienced PMP certified project manager and holds a Technical Management Certificate from Georgia Tech. Phyllis has served as our interim VP of PR and Marketing for the past 3 months and has done an exceptional job. She replaces Keith Warrick who was our former Director of PR, Marketing and Social Media until June of this year.

Please join me in welcoming Lavonda and Phyllis to our leadership board. In the coming months their areas will be exceptionally busy. If you would like to help them in their roles please contact them.

Thanks.
Carter C. Hill, Chapter President
BDPA Atlanta
(678) 677-5428
Follow on Twitter: @CarterHillJr

Wayne Hicks Available as Program Meeting Speaker

I was a guest speaker at a BDPA Los Angeles program meeting back in the day. Our topic was simple, 'Why BDPA in Los Angeles?'. There was a good turnout and our dialogue with chapter members and leaders was quite candid and frank.

The chapter president, Andree Justin, shared the following testimonial on my presentation,

"Wayne's visit energized the chapter leadership and attending members. His enthusiasm and dedication to mentoring local chapters and sharing the goals and objectives of the BDPA exemplified the emotions, attitude and focus BDPA members should follow. We received great ideas about how to approach our challenges in serving LA stakeholders. Wayne reminded us that we represent every African American in this region. We now can approach our program development, community involvement and sponsor relationships with a much grandeur vision and mission. BDPA LA appreciates the time that Wayne took out to share with us and highly recommends other chapters to tap into his wealth of management, corporate, entrepreneurial and BDPA knowledge."

I am working on my 2011 speaking calendar. Click here to see my bio. I would love to come visit with your chapter over the coming weeks and months. POST A COMMENT if you are interested in exploring this opportunity.

Regal Foundation

The Regal Foundation provides community grants to 501(c)(3) organizations in locations where the Regal Entertainment Group operates. You can see the 2008 grant recipients & the amount of their grants on Page 19-25 of their 2008 tax return.

Usually these community grants come in form of funding and in-kind support to enhance organizations benefiting persons suffering economic, social, physical, or educational hardship or disadvantage, or who are otherwise in need of charitable, scientific, or educational support or assistance.

Funding decisions are made three times each year.  Content of Grant Applications:

1. Application and grant agreement
2. IRS tax-exempt letter
3. Copy of most recent financial audit

The grant application should be sent to:




7132 Regal Ln
c/o Richard Westerling
Knoxville, TN 37918
(865) 925-9787


Please take a moment to review the information available from their website to determine if your chapter is a good match for this funding source. If you think so, let BETF know by replying to this blog post.

Good News Tuesday: John Dabiri, 2010 MacArthur Fellow

Biophysicist John Dabiri was named a MacArthur Fellow in 2010. The Fellowship is a $500,000, no-strings-attached grant for individuals who have shown exceptional creativity in their work and the promise to do more.


Dabiri is only 30-years old. He serves as the Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Bioengineering at the California Institute of Technology.

He graduated from Princeton University with a B.S.E. degree summa cum laude in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in June 2001. In September 2001, he came to Caltech where he earned an M.S. degree in Aeronautics in June 2003, followed by a Ph.D. in Bioengineering with a minor in Aeronautics in April 2005. He joined the Caltech faculty as an Assistant Professor in May 2005. In 2008, Popular Science magazine named him one of its "Brilliant 10" scientists.







This brother is the reason that we need to ensure our children are up-to-speed on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) all throughout their school years! 

We're not giving away $500,000 ... but, we can give a little something with your help!

BDPA Grant Disbursement Plan for American Honda Foundation Funds

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) and the National BDPA VP-Member Services are pleased to announce the process by which the American Honda Foundation (AHF) funding will be distributed.

American Honda Foundation Grant Disbursement Plan

View more presentations from Wayne Hicks.

We are excited about this disbursement plan because it will leverage the American Honda Foundation funding to move our Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program forward in a number of ways.

1. More students engaged in Saturday ‘computer camps’ (or whatever they are called at local level). These Saturday computer camps are the essence of our SITES program … we need to encourage their development and growth.  The successful 'best practice' in our Southern Minnesota chapter needs to be replicated around the nation.
2. More BDPA chapters / volunteers engaged with elementary and middle school students. SITES is supposed to be K-12, however, we only seem to promote and reward efforts with 8th – 12th graders in the HSCC project. Can we get more energy, engagement and creativity in elementary and middle school programs?
3. More BDPA engagement with HSCC alumni – This group of students are a wealth of talent and opportunity that BDPA has never really engaged with in the past. Can we get more engaged with HSCC alumni as promoters, volunteers, instructors, mentors, and so forth?

4. Stronger participation in regional conferences – it seems that regionalization is a part of BDPA’s future. Can we leverage this AHF funding to get chapters to consider hosting or attending regional conferences?
5. Stronger participation in national conference – Can we leverage this AHF funding to get more participation in YTC, IT Showcase and national HSCC championships in Chicago next year?
6. Marketing and Documentation of past glories – Can we leverage this AHF funding to get more material about our current programs and our HSCC alumni at the local chapter level?

The other attractive component of this grant disbursement plan is that funds will flow on a quarterly basis culminating at the 2011 annual BDPA Technology Conference in Chicago. The plan requires chapter reporting to be completed on activity between January 1 – June 30, 2011. In addition we hope to give regular (monthly?) updates that will prod, encourage, motivate and cajole local chapter presidents to be more proactive in their SITES preparation and documentation.

Anyhow, this is our game-plan for disbursement of the funds. We should be reporting on the first winners within the next 30 days. Is your chapter giving out 2010 scholarships to 2010 High School Computer Competition (HSCC) alumni? Did you chapter send a representative to the annual HSCC coordinators' meeting held last month in Naples?

What say u?

This Week in BDPA (Dec 12-18)

BDPA has 45 chapters around the nation. You can always find programs, services or networking activity here or here. BDPA supports your efforts for career advancement in the IT industry. Our hope is that you will continue to support Our Cause!

Are you taking advantage of these programs? Here is a weekly preview of upcoming events gathered from the centralized BDPA calendar :

• Dec 14: National BDPA - Conference Call, 'Job Seekers Forum'
• Dec 15: St. Louis - Networking, 'Holiday Celebration'
• Dec 16: Baltimore, Northern Virginia and Washington DC - Networking, 'Annual Holiday Event and Open House'
• Dec 16: Greater Columbia - Networking, 'Annual Holiday Meeting'
• Dec 17: Philadelphia - Networking, 'Annual Pink Slip Networking Event'
• Dec 17: New York - Networking, 'Holiday Party and SITES Fundraiser'
• Dec 17: New Jersey - Networking, 'Annual Holiday Celebration'
• Dec 18: Los Angeles - Networking, 'Annual Scholarship and Awards Luncheon'

We encourage all BDPA leaders to take advantage of the centralized BDPA Groupsite Calendar to post your upcoming events! Please let us know of other BDPA events that we may have missed. Most importantly, let us know if you plan to attend any BDPA events this week.

The BDPA Insider - December 12, 2010

  

The BDPA Insider – December 12, 2010
 
What better way to start the day than with your weekly message from BDPA!
 
In this issue:

1. 11 Hot Skills for 2011
2. BDPA IT Institute Offers PMP Exam Prep Course thru Auburn University
3. Feedback: Parent of HSCC Alumni Tyrone Hinderson (Los Angeles, 2007-2010) 
4. So You Lost Your Job What Do You Do Now?
5. Tech Tip: Using iPad
6. Understand the Mind of the Interviewer
7. Unemployment Rate Remains High‏
8. Why BDPA Students Should Consider the US Air Force Academy

If you believe in what BDPA is trying to accomplish ... you can help us by supporting our scholarship fund!

Feedback: Parent of HSCC Alumni Tyrone Hinderson (Los Angeles, 2007-2010)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) provides funding for programs that advance its members in the IT industry from the classroom to the boardroom. Advancement comes from relationships and volunteer efforts taking place in 45 chapter cities around the country.

Sometimes we aren't sure if our efforts are making a difference. At those times of uncertainty ... it feels good to read a message like this one from the parent of Tyrone Hinderson.

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Our family began our journey with BDPA in January 2007. My son Tyrone reluctantly attended the orientation for the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program.

After deciding to check the program out Tyrone became totally engrossed in the Saturday classes. The instructors, being African American IT professionals, have been great mentors and role models for my son. He has learned so many valuable things as a result of his four year experience. Tyrone has used his programming skills to create video games, build web sites, and enhance his ability to excel in his high school AP Computer Science course.

BDPA teaches the students teamwork and networking skills; how to facilitate, plan, organize and conduct meetings, deliver speeches, in addition, to developing programming skills. In addition, Tyrone was taught how to conduct himself at conventions, and has traveled to Washington DC, Atlanta, North Carolina, and Philadelphia to represent BDPA Los Angeles chapter in the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) at the annual BDPA National convention.

When Tyrone applied to colleges, he was able to use his BDPA experience to demonstrate skills by reference in his college and scholarship applications. Tyrone was accepted with scholarships to: Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Harvey Mudd College, Pomona College, Tufts University, UCLA, Wesleyan University and several other institutions. He is currently enrolled at Columbia University majoring in Computer Science and Biology.

Colleges are seeking students with the skills made available to dedicated students who participate in the BDPA HSCC program. I encourage all parents to introduce BDPA HSCC to other students, families and friends. Tyrone plans on being a lifetime member of BDPA, and will be a participant at future events and conventions, further expanding his knowledge base.

Thank you,
Mrs. Staci Evans Hinderson
Tyrone P. Hinderson’s parent

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I had a big smile on my face as I read this letter from Mrs. Hinderson. I hope this blog post has the same impact on you! If, in the future, you feel like you're uncertain about your future with BDPA ... just come back and read this letter!

Election Results: BDPA New York (2011-2012)

We are pleased to announce that Renetta English has been elected to serve as 2011-2012 chapter president by the members of the BDPA New York chapter.   BDPA New York chapter has a lengthy and important legacy ... and Renetta is making the commitment to lead her chapter to the next level as we enter into the new decade.

Renetta is one of the hardest-working members in BDPA. She has been a member of BDPA since 2004 serving in several leadership roles. In 2008, she was the chapter's director of human resources. Currently, she serves as the chapter's vice president of Membership Management. It is worth noting that BDPA New York chapter membership has grown by 30% since she accepted this leadership role.

Renetta is dedicated to BDPA and believes it to be a premiere organization for IT professionals.

"We must all work together to participate in and promote the goald and mission of BDPA."

Renetta laid out her campaign platform to the chapter membership prior to the election. She has strong ideas about the future direction of BDPA New York in areas such as Membership, Youth Programs, Finances, Corporate Sponsorships, Political Relationships, Small Business Owners, Strategic Partnerships and Community.

Please join me in welcoming Renetta as the newest member of the National BDPA Board of Directors.

Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management Scholarship for BDPA Students (Deadline Extended: 12/31/2010)

Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management (CESM) executive director Lonnie Emard is enthusiastic about his work. CESM is a collaboration of companies, colleges and universities, and community groups that share a mission: Increase the supply in the IT talent pipeline. As such, Mr. Emard thought it would be a great idea to offer a scholarship for any qualified high school student in BDPA-nation.

Applicants must excel academically, show exceptional leadership potential, and make an impact on their communities through service to others. Applicants need to (a) be from South Carolina or North Carolina or (b) attend a college in either of these two states.

Consortium/BDPA Scholars will be awarded a one-time $2,000 scholarship that may be used to pursue an information technology focused degree at an accredited four-year college or university of their choice located in South Carolina or North Carolina. The Consortium/BDPA scholarship may be used to supplement benefits from the college or university 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.

Scholarship winners will be selected based on the application, essay, and letters of recommendation.

The deadline has been extended to December 31, 2010 and we want to see great activity from our students ... especially those in our BDPA chapters located in Charlotte, Greater Columbia or Triangle.

Download the application to see the details!

Grant Proposal: Costco Wholesale Foundation (BDPA Triangle)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) submitted a $2,000 grant proposal to the Costco Wholesale Regional Office in North Carolina on behalf of BDPA Triangle chapter. We're hopeful to get funding necessary to expand the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program in the Raleigh/Durham area.

Costco Wholesale's giving guidelines allow their warehouses and regional offices to support programs focusing on children, education and health and human services. Costco Wholesale is committed to supporting charitable and community activities in the markets where we do business.

We hope to get an answer by February 2011. Wish us luck!

Why BDPA Students Should Consider the US Air Force Academy

by Heather Roberts (US Air Force)
Originally posted 12/8/2009

When selecting a college or university to attend, high school students have a plethora of choices. However, in today's society attending the right institution has a direct impact one’s ability for future success. Coupled with the fact attending the right instruction is not cheap. Attending a service academy becomes a very attractive option because it provides a student with a quality education as well as guaranteed employment upon graduation.

A service academy is a undergraduate institution established to prepare young men and women to become officers in the military. There are five service academies in the United States. They are:

1. United States Military Academy (West Point)
2. United States Naval Academy
3. United States Air Force Academy
4. United States Merchant Marines
5. United States Coast Guard

When narrowing down your choice of these five academies a high school student should consider attending the Air Force Academy to pursue their education for the following reasons:

1. Become an officer of character to lead the Air Force and Nation in the future
   
2. Graduate with a bachelors of science and 2nd Lieutenant commission; earn a salary starting at approximately $40,000 per year and owe no college loans
   
3. All training and education are interwoven with leadership and character development
• Military Training
• Academic Education
• Athletic/Physical Fitness
4. Training/Education programs valued over $403,000 with $894 monthly stipend
   
5. World Class facilities and faculty with an average class size of 18 cadets
• State of the Art Facilitates
• Student/Faculty ratio of 8 to 1
• 100% full-time faculty; both civilian and active duty AF officers
6. Recognized institution with 32 academic majors (102 hours core curriculum)
   
7. Athletic/Sports; 17 men/10 women Division I teams and 46 club sports
   
8. Aviation: free-fall parachuting, soaring gliders, and powered flight
   
9. Summer Training Programs; leadership training, cultural immersion, language immersion and character development

US News & World Reports recently ranked "Americas Best Colleges 2009" and the US Air Force Academy ranked:

• #1 Baccalaureate College (West)
• #1 Undergraduate Business Management
• #2 Aero & Astro Engineering
• #8 Undergraduate Engineering Programs
• #8 Electrical Engineering
• #8 Civil Engineering

US Air Force Academy students also compete for annual post-graduate opportunities that include:

• 30-40 National Competitive Scholarships
• Rhodes
• Truman
• Marshall
• 16 Graduate School Programs
  
• 17 Medical School Scholarships
  
• 2 Dental/Nursing Scholarships

There are other programs and opportunities that you will be available to you, including: Semester Abroad, Operations AF Tour, Cadet Training, Youth Programs, Aviation Programs, Satellite Applications, AF Basic Training, Combat Survival and AF Research/Engineering.

The admissions process is extensive and competitive. Only 18% of the students that apply are accepted for admission. However, BDPA students can expect assistance from the US Air Force if they consider the following admission tips:

1. Start before the end of your junior year (March/April)
2. Looking for leadership potential, athletic ability, academics and character
3. Dual but separate process to attend a military service academy; an appointment from USAFA and a Nomination from your Congressional Representative or Senator (other military-affiliated categories exist)
4. Complete a medical examination
5. Pass a candidate fitness assessment

I encourage all BDPAers to share this information with any young person between the ages of 17-23 who might be interested in attending the US Air Force Academy.

Tech Tip: Using iPad

BDPA member Kai Dupe' loves his iPad. He recently shared a Tech Tip about Apple's iPad that I thought would be of interest to BETF-Blog readers.






Kudos to Kai for making this Tech Tip available to us.

Do you own an iPad?

Grant Proposal: CIGNA Foundation (BDPA Philadelphia)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) partnered with BDPA Philadelphia chapter on a $5,000 grant proposal to CIGNA Foundation. We seek funding for the 2011 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program implemented by the 4-time defending Chapter of the Year.

We have a unique advantage in that two members of the BDPA Philadelphia chapter's board of director are employed by CIGNA. Also, Malcolm Jackson, one of our past corporate champions at CIGNA, was recently appointed by President Obama to a leadership position in the Environmental Protection Agency.

We should have an answer from the CIGNA Foundation sometime on or before the MLK Holiday.

BDPA IT Institute Offers PMP Exam Prep Course thru Auburn University

Now is a good time to begin to consider your career plans for the coming year. Have you been procrastinating about taking the Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam? If so, then perhaps it is time to make that move!

The Winter 2011 enrollment period is now open for the BDPA IT Institute. The course, scheduled Feb-May, is a comprehensive preparation for the PMP Exam taught by Gregory Brown (PMP, MCSE, MCSA, ITIL). Gregory is an adjunct professor with Auburn University. Auburn University provides the academic discipline for this online course.

It is important to note that the course has been updated to align with the 4th edition of the PMBOK Guide and awards all 35 PDUs required to sit for the PMP Certification Exam.

Key benefits of PMP Certification include:

1. Career advancement, progression and promotion from sponsoring corporations or employers
2. Increased technology business acumen and leadership skills
3. Publication opportunities in field
4. Respect and prestige of being "certified"
5. Leadership, management and project management skill development

If you have questions or wish to discuss further, please contact Edwin Sapp, BDPA IT Institute director at (800) 727-2372.

The BDPA Insider - December 5, 2010

What better way to start the day than with your weekly message from BDPA!

In this issue: 

1. 5 Steps to a Remarkable Personal Brand Strategy
2. Advance your Career with a College Degree or Certificate 
3. A message to all members of Connectors Club
   
4. BDPA Students: HTML 1, Learn the Basics (Zack Garbow) 
5. BDPAToday (Dec 2, 2010)
6. BDPAtoday (Washington DC)
7. Gartner's Top 10 Technologies for 2011
8. IT Job Seeker Survey Results - Analysis Report Now Available  
9. Jonecia Keels and Jazmine Miller (Spelman College): Future Face of Technology 
10. Secrets to Being More Strategic
11. Slideshare, History: (BDPA New York) 
12. Three BDPA Students Showcase Entrepreneurial Talents with 3D Virtual Integration  of Facebook Called StartLounge 
13. Wintino Jones Memorial Award for Outstanding Member of the Year

It would be great to hear from you about this week's BDPA Insider.  Which of these articles or blog posts did you enjoy the most?   What issues or topics would you like to see covered in future weeks?

BDPA Students: HTML 1, Learn the Basics (Zack Garbow)

Zack Garbow would be in the BDPA Hall of Fame if we had such a thing. He is the long-time coordinator of the high school computer competition (HSCC) program hosted by our BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter. BDPA Southern Minnesota has won more national HSCC championships than any other chapter in the nation.  BDPA Southern Minnesota chapter has won 5 of the past 6 national championships (2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010)

Zack feels that building a strong HSCC program begins with the basics. Here is lesson that he uses to teach HTML basics to his students in Rochester, MN.







I look forward to seeing other HSCC tutorials being placed online! One BDPA!

Wintino Jones Memorial Award for Outstanding Member of the Year

Soulclap to BDPA Philadelphia chapter for taking steps to rename its local Outstanding Member of the Year Award after long-time member Wintino Jones (1958-2009). Wintino Jones joined BDPA Philadelphia in 1980.

During his 30 years of service Wintino was the unofficial spokesperson for his chapter. He would call members and friends of BDPA to invite them to program meetings and networking parties. Wintino also hosted fundraisers for young people that participated in the Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) program. And he is famous around the nation for the joy in playing bid whist with his BDPA Family!

The Wintino Jones Memorial Award for Outstanding Member of the Year will be awarded to the chapter member who demonstrates passion and commitment to overall mission of BDPA Philadelphia. Very few in BDPA ever showed that high level of enthusiasm and dedication as we saw from Wintino. BDPA Philadelphia is proud to honor the light and joy that Wintino brought to everyone he touched in our BDPA family.

The Wintino Jones Memorial Award for Outstanding Member of the Year will be given out for the first time during the upcoming Awards Gala and Scholarship Fundraiser being held in downtown Philadelphia at the Hilton Garden Inn on Saturday, December 4.

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) created an online project to raise $5000 in scholarship funding for students that represent BDPA Philadelphia chapter at the 2011 National BDPA HSCC Championships to be held in Chicago. You can help right now if you would visit our secure online Crowdrise fundraising project.


If you knew Wintino ... or if you know others who loved BDPA as Wintino did ... we hope you will find a way to express your support. Even a simple REPLY or COMMENT to this post would be appreciated!

Jonecia Keels and Jazmine Miller (Spelman College): Future Face of Technology

Jonecia Keels and Jazmine Miller are full-time students at Spelman College. They are the 2010 Big Mobile on Campus winners.

There winning mobile application is called HBCU Buddy. HBCU Buddy is a mobile application created to educate and inform users, including both prospective and current college students, about Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) across the United States.

The application opens with a directory profiling each HBCU with information on academics, admissions, research, student life, alumni and other details. After selecting a school students can navigate through the school – literally – by accessing virtual tours of buildings, on-campus videos, and local GPS and directions. The application also provides students with customizable social networking features to connect with each other, their school and community. Students can use the application to follow the latest on school club and campus happenings, local events, hot spots around the community and more.

Here is interview that Ms. Keel and Ms. Miller gave to NBC on HBCU Buddy:






The future face of technology is all around us ... and that is good news!