American Honda Foundation Supports STEM-Based High School Computer Camps Around the Nation

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be administering a $25,000 grant from the American Honda Foundation (AHF). One of the objectives of the grant funding is to have a greater impact around the nation with the BDPA Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program.

BDPA chapters are encouraged to implement high school computer camps for students that are interested in gaining knowledge of a variety of science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) topics. There were at least five BDPA computer camps operational last Saturday, January 29. These five camps were hosted by BDPA chapters in Chicago, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Los Angeles and Rhode Island. There were 74 students who braved the inclement weather conditions to attend these computer camps.

BDPA Twin Cities Chapter Computer Camp

I attended the computer camp orientation held in Cincinnati. I was blown away to see a room full of diverse students, parents and volunteers spending making a commitment to a 9-week technology seminar series. Here is the slideshow that was shared by BDPA Cincinnati leaders with the students:

BDPA Cincinnati High School Computer Camp Orientation (2011)

View more presentations from BDPA Foundation.

We plan to allocate funding from the AHF grant to chapters that do a number of things in support of STEM-training for high school students. The points will add up from January thru June. After the first month of the process the leading BDPA chapters in high school program points are:

1. Los Angeles (38)
2. New York (29)
3. Cincinnati (20)
4. Southern Minnesota (20)
5. Chicago (13)

It should be interesting to see how the other 40 BDPA chapters respond to the challenge (and opportunity!) presented by the AHF grant!