Zinquarn Wright Uses JnJ Scholarship at Capitol Technology University

Zinquarn Wright * Capitol Technology University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to winners of the BDPA IT Showcase.  One of those students is Zinquarn Wright of Capitol Technology University.

Zinquarn Wright lives in Washington DC and is a graduate of McKinley Technology High School. He has participated in the UPO Providing Opportunities With Educational Readiness (POWER) program for the past five years. Zinquarn has distinguished himself with his participation with the Joint Educational Facilities (JEF) program led by Dr. Jesse Bemley.  Zinquarn won first place in the BDPA High School IT Showcase in Indianapolis. He was also a member of the Digital Media Arts Club sponsored by WHUT and American University Graduate Film School, where I helped produce two PSAs dealing with suspension from school and teen pregnancy. In his sophomore year of high school he was a part of the WPFW live teen radio show, '2K Nation', where he was frequently a host and part of the panel. He not only attended the National Science and Engineering Festival in Washington DC, he was also tapped by Lockheed and 4H to present Legos Robotics to youth attendees. For the last two years he has been a part of the music club at his school, where students are taught how mix beats, engineer using Logic music software.

When asked to share his thoughts on being a Johnson & Johnson scholar, Zinquarn wrote,

"Participating in BDPA through the JEF program with Dr. Bemley absolutely changed my life. I learned about aspects of technology that stretched beyond just my interests in music and music technology. Because Dr. Bemley prepared me to participate in two high school showcases at the BDPA Conference in DC and Indianapolis, I learned how to prepare professional papers, how to give informed presentations and improved my leadership skills by working in a team.

BDPA definitely improved my chances of getting into CapTech U, especially when the dean saw my paper in the BDPA proceedings from Indianapolis. The folks at CapTech U knew about the great work of BDPA and Dr. Bemley and Mr. Perry Carter. Not only was I accepted by three other students from POWER who participated with JEF and BDPA. The opportunities provided by BDPA broadened my academic interests and helped with my post-secondary matriculation. I’m thankful for the great opportunities."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student on board as winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Zinquarn's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Long Story Short: Rick Giraudy (BDPA Greater Columbia)

Rick Giraudy has a powerful legacy within BDPA.   He served for many years as our National BDPA VP-Finance. E arlier this year Rick took on leadership of BDPA Greater Columbia chapter.

This blog wanted to get a more personal look into the personality of this rising BDPA leader. We asked Rick to give brief answers to some odd questions. We hope you enjoy this new feature that we simply call, 'Long Story Short...'

1. Craziest thing you've ever done? Jumped off of a 90-foot cliff in to a lake.

   

   Rick Giraudy * BDPA Gr. Columbia

 
2. Favorite food you'd take with you on a desert island? Fresh baked Italian bread. Still warm on the inside. YUM!
 
3. Favorite way to exercise? Spin class!! Gets me moving blood circulating and my knees don't hurt.
 
4. Simple things that make you happiest? A hug from my daughter who is starting her 3rd year at Georgia Southern University. Heck these days a phone call without asking for money would be great!
 
5. Who You'd Like to Meet? Wish I would have met Heavy D and Whitney Houston... My favorite people of all time are my grandfather Sid (knew him well), General Colin Powell (got to meet him twice) and President Obama: I got a salute from him.

Can you jump 90-feet into ANYTHING?

Ebenezer Armah Uses Zycron Scholarship at Fisk University

Ebenezer Armah * Fisk University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Zycron awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to five (5) students. One of those students is Ebenezer Armah of Fisk University. Ebenezer is a sophomore and a Computer Science major. Ebenezer interned with the IT Department of Deloitte last summer and learned a lot from the firm. After high school, he accepted a job as an elementary school teacher in Ghana, which her performed for two years. He is interested in Cybersecurity and upon graduation in 2019. He looks forward to working for the security department of a global company.

Ebenezer recently joined our BDPA Middle Tennessee chapter. When asked to share her thoughts on being a Zycron scholar, Ebenezer wrote,

"I learned about the Zycron Scholarship through a co-worker at Deloitte Services. He is a member of BDPA Middle Tennessee Chapter and he encouraged me to join BDPA. He told me about opportunities to mentor High School students and also to be mentored by professionals in corporate world. I told him about my passions and through our conversation got to know about this scholarship.

I am really happy to be a member of BDPA and I look forward to great journey ahead."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student on board as winner of the Zycron Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Ebenezer's career as she seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Tahj Gayfield Uses His Second Monsanto Scholarship at Truman State University

Tahj Gayfield * Truman State University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Monsanto awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to four (4) students. One of those students is Tahj Gayfield of Truman State University. This is the second year in a row that Tahj won this scholarship.

As a student at Truman State University, Tahj has helped make the campus more culturally inclusive by being actively involved with the Multicultural Affairs Center (MAC). He led the MAC’s efforts in organizing and planning the opening and closing ceremonies for the Martin Luther King Collegiate Challenge. In addition, he was actively involved in coordinating the Social Justice Leadership Summit by recruiting volunteers, finding speakers and panelists and planning fundraising events.

Tahj’s employment history consists of an Application Development Internship in Des Moines, IA at Principal Financial Group. There he applied agile methodologies to develop the back-end of various web applications. In addition, he works as a Student Advisor and Hall Desk Manager at Truman State University. While maintaining a 4.0 GPA in his Computer Science coursework, Tahj dedicates time to Track and Field. As a first-year student-athlete, he earned top 3 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference.

Tahj is a member of our BDPA St. Louis chapter. When asked to share his thoughts on being a Monsanto scholar, Tahj wrote,

"I participated in the BDPA High School Computer Competition team my junior year. It was great being able to meet and work with students who had a similar interest in computer technology. Being able to study, learn, and have fun was perfect. However, the most memorable event, I had was our six hour competition practice. It sounded a lot worse than it was. We were able to practice for the competition and correct our mistakes. In addition, we really got to know each other well, based on the fact that we were stuck in a room with each other for six hours. However, it was a blast because I had the opportunity to bond with the rest of my team members.

When I was younger, I used to play with the cardboard paper towel rolls. I used them in many different ways, and one of them was a “telescope.” They didn’t allow for better vision, but a narrowed outlook on certain aspects. However, when you put down the roll, you could see everything around you. That’s what BDPA did for me. Prior to joining, my knowledge of computer technology was limited to the programming language, Java. At the time I thought that was enough, mainly because most people I knew didn’t know how to program computers. BDPA opened my eyes to a world of technology that I never knew existed, and I thank them for that because now I want to keep studying and researching to learn about this new world.

Friends and other students know me as a highly involved student who always offers help to others and one who takes every situation as a learning opportunity. In the future, I want to work as a Software Engineer and pursue my Masters in Business Administration."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student on board as a member and as a winner of the Monsanto Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Tahj's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Long Story Short: Matthew Lampkin (BDPA Hartford)

Matthew Lampkin joined BDPA Hartford chapter in 2005. Over the years he served in a variety of leadership positions including HSCC coordinator and vice president. He currently serves as the BDPA Hartford chapter president. His immediate goal is to increase the chapter’s membership, build relationships with students at area high schools\colleges, and provide area companies access to a pool of talented IT professionals. One of his biggest accomplishments was the establishment of the Computer Learning Program for the state Department of Children and Families. Although Matthew has spent the past 22 years of his life in the Mid-Atlantic and New England States, he is a native of Houston, Texas. He attended Syracuse University and graduated in 1997 with a BS in Information Management Technology. Currently he is employed by Computer Sciences Corporation in East Hartford, CT as a Security Administrator.

Matthew Lampkin

This blog wanted to get a more personal look into the personality of this rising BDPA leader. We asked Matthew to give brief answers to some odd questions. We hope you enjoy this new feature that we simply call, 'Long Story Short...'

1. Craziest thing you've ever done? Recently signed up for a vacation club membership.
2. Favorite way to exercise? When I'm coaching my 7 - 10 year old players who are on the West Hartford Cowboys!! I do drills with them.
3. Simple things that make you happiest? When those who care about me the most give me a simple thanks for things I do or when these same folks help others; pay it forward.
4. Who You'd Like to Meet? My great grandparents and my great-great-grandparents. Really would love to see what qualities of theirs do I have within me.

I don't much care for the Dallas Cowboys ... but, I can definitely yell out Go Cowboys to Matthew next time I see him!

Alston Clark Uses His JnJ Scholarship at Howard University

Alston Clark * Howard University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to ten (10) students. One of those students is Alston Clark of Howard University.

Alston loves working on difficult problems and relating abstract concepts into realistic solutions. Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Alston developed a love for science and technology at an early age. Currently a computer science major at Howard University, Alston enjoys finding ways to use technology to help positive social causes. During his free time, Alston can be found playing guitar or exploring the city with this brothers and sister. After college, Alston plans on working in industry for a number of years as a software engineer.

When asked to share his thoughts on being a Johnson & Johnson scholar, Alston wrote,

"During my freshman year in high school, I participated in BDPA High School Computer Competition. This was my first experience with coding and it opened my eyes to new possibilities. My instructor challenged myself and my teammates to be greater. I will never forget his class nor his advice. Being a member of the BDPA has benefited me in high school, and continues to help me reach my goals in college. I am extremely grateful for this organization."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student on board as winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Alston's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Danielle Haik Uses Her Zycron Scholarship at Tennessee State University

Danielle Haik * Tennessee State University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Zycron awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to five (5) students. One of those students is Danielle Haik of Tennessee State University.  Zycron is an international information technology services and solutions firm headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Since 1991, Zycron has offered IT solutions to a broad client base, and today is the primary provider for numerous Fortune 500 companies.

Danielle is a senior Computer Science student attending Tennessee State University.  She is a mentor for the Tennessee Louis Stocks Alliance for Minority Participation which promotes the retention of minority students in STEM majors. During the past summer, she worked as an intern for Deloitte in the Global Technology Services Department. Danielle is a DHS Scholar and conducts Big Data Research for the Department of Homeland Security.  She plans to become a project manager. In her spare time, Danielle enjoys playing and watching soccer and golf.

Danielle recently joined our BDPA Middle Tennessee chapter. When asked to share her thoughts on being a Zycron scholar, Danielle wrote,

"I am very appreciate of the BDPA and Zycron for their support of me in my scholastic endeavors. BDPA has exposed me to various professional development opportunities. During my internship with Deloitte this summer, I officially joined the Middle Tennessee Chapter of the BDPA. I attended BDPA events outside of work such as the Zycron dinner event this past June. The members of BDPA that I have interacted with have been very encouraging of my career, aspirations and general goals."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student on board as winner of the Zycron Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Danielle's career as she seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Déja Lindsey Uses her JnJ Scholarship to Attend Georgetown University

Déja Lindsey * Georgetown University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to ten (10) students. One of those students is Déja Lindsey of Georgetown University.

Déja is a junior at Georgetown University with a double major in Computer Science and Sociology. On campus, she is a member of the Georgetown Cheerleading Team and works as a technology support specialist. She spent her first two summers of college interning with top-40 Fortune 500 companies. She worked as an IT Intern for Johnson & Johnson during the summer of 2015 in Raritan, NJ, and as a Software Developer for JPMorgan Chase during the summer of 2016 in Houston, TX.  Besides technology, she is extremely passionate about giving back to her community and spends most of her free time volunteering and working with Girls Got IT!, a program she founded, that works to introduce young, underprivileged girls to technology. She aspires to work as a technologist that creates or improves applications to better the lives of humans around the world.

Déja is a member of our BDPA Chicago chapter. When asked to share her thoughts on being a Johnson & Johnson scholar, Déja wrote,

"Being a BDPA member has had a great impact on my career development. From membership in the BDPA I was able to network and make connections with employees from Johnson & Johnson and JPMorgan Chase, both of which I have spent summers interning. I found out about the program, Launching Leaders, in which I interviewed for my internship with JPMorgan Chase from contacts that I made through BDPA. I was also invited to participate in the Eli Lilly IT Career Planning Conference after meeting other BDPA members. I attended a local event in Washington, DC where I was also able to meet with working professionals in the Washington, DC area.

By attending the National BDPA Technology conferences in 2015 and 2016, I got the opportunity to attend seminars such as the Women in Technology Panel, Big Data session, Millennials in the Workforce, and How to Be Successful in Corporate America, which were all great learning experiences. Along with the networking aspect, BDPA has exposed me to more Black IT professionals, empowering me to continue my path into the information technology career field. My most memorable moment in BDPA was attending the PINKTech luncheon, because I was able to meet many African American women who have been in the tech industry for decades, which was very inspirational."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student on board as winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Déja's career as she seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Katryce Bridges Uses her Monsanto Scholarship at Rockford University

Katryce Bridges * Rockford University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Monsanto awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to four (4) students. One of those students is Katryce Bridges of Rockford University.

When asked to share her thoughts on being a Monsanto scholar, Katryce wrote,

"Hello, my name Is Katryce Bridges and I am a Musical Theatre Major at Rockford University. I will also be working towards a minor in business, which will enable me to manage my own finances, oversee my own contracts, and create my own business in the future. During my summer breaks, I will intern at various companies, so that I may learn to apply all of the knowledge that I will receive in school.

My ultimate goal is to perform professionally on Broadway, in Movies, in TV Shows, and so much more. I never want to stop learning and I am willing to accept any challenge that comes my way. While in high school, I was given the opportunity to work at Donald Gaddis Insurance Company. My position was Assistant to the Senior Accountant at Donald Gaddis Insurance Company, during the summers of 2013 and 2014. I gained a wealth of knowledge while working there. My responsibilities were organizing, filing, and scanning checks and invoices and delivering important documents. My work ethic grew immensely after working for Donald Gaddis Insurance Company. I may not be a science, math, or technology major but I do understand and appreciate how these subjects impact the world and how it helps to make the world a better and more efficient place when used properly."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student on board as winner of the Monsanto Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Katryce's career as she seeks to advance in the music industry!

Darren Young Uses Rackspace Scholarship at Purdue University

Darren Young * Purdue University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Rackspace awarded a $1,000 college scholarship to two (2) students.   One of those students is Darren Young of Purdue University.  Rackspace is the #1 managed cloud company, helps businesses tap the power of cloud computing without the complexity and cost of managing it on their own.

Darren recently joined our BDPA Indianapolis chapter. When asked to share his thoughts on being a Rackspace scholar, Darren wrote,

"Ever since I began participating in the BDPA IT Showcase and attending the BDPA conference, I have felt a whole new level of inspiration and motivation diving into my IT professional career. The most impactful moments for me have been getting a chance to hear technical sessions lead by African American men and women in tech, as well as getting feedback from African American men and women in tech on how I can better myself. Going to a predominantly white institution, it is not often that I get to see successful men and women who look like me, and those numbers drop even lower when I look for these mentors in the field of technology. BDPA has given me further confidence that I have chosen the right industry and career path by allowing me to engage with students in my field, solve challenging technical research projects, and giving me access to a pool of top minority mentors in the field of technology. I am looking forward to finishing out my last few years going to the BDPA conferences as an undergrad and then going back when I am a full time employee somewhere."

Darren is currently a Junior at Purdue University studying Information Systems and Computer Information Technology. He has had a passion for working with Technology since middle school solving his parents “turn it off and turn it back on” questions. But he has gotten a chance to validate that passion with his past 2 internships in General Electric’s Digital leadership program. He spent last summer in a Data Analytics role, and this past summer he got to explore in the DevOps and cloud space.

Aside from work Darren stays very active on campus as the President of the Society of Minority Managers. He is also the co-founder and vice president for the Purdue Club Basketball Team. Darren believes that information technology is a powerful tool that can be used to make life easier and is a revolutionary necessity for every business. He strives to master business and technology tactics and merge his knowledge of the two giants to add value to a company and make the world we live in convenient, pleasant, connected and productive.

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented technology student on board as both a member and as winner of the 1st Annual Rackspace Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Darren's career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Demetrius King Uses Monsanto Scholarship at Morehouse College

Demetrius King

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Monsanto awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to four (4) students. One of those students is Demetrius King of Morehouse College.

Demetrius recently joined our BDPA Atlanta chapter. When asked to share his thoughts on being a Monsanto scholar, Demetrius wrote,

"I am Demetrius King and I am a rising junior, computer science major at Morehouse College. I currently plan on starting an app development company after graduating with my undergraduate degree. The summer of 2016 I worked at the United States Department of Energy, where I built an online database.

In the short time that I have been in BDPA, it has been great. The most memorable part of my BDPA experience has been gaining connections with other students involved with BDPA. Being involved with BDPA has allowed to find students of my similar interests and caliber. I have also gained more confidence in myself as a Black male in technology as a result of BDPA. I hope to get even more involved in the future, so I can gain more connections and experience."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented technology student on board as both a member and as winner of the Monsanto Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Demetrius' career as he seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Jonielle McDonnough Uses JnJ Scholarship at the University of South Florida

Jonielle McDonnough * Univ. of South Florida

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to ten (10) students. One of those students is Jonielle McDonnough of University of South Florida.

Jonielle may join our BDPA Greater Tampa Bay chapter. When asked to share her thoughts on being a Johnson & Johnson scholar, Jonielle wrote,

My most memorable moment in BDPA is when I was awarded a scholarship. When I committed to attending the University of South Florida, I did not have any scholarship funds to be of financial help as I pursue my degree. I hoped that throughout the time I am a student at my university that I would receive financial assistance, especially scholarships. I was thrilled and full of excitement and relief when BDPA made it a dream come true while furthering my education.

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented technology student on board as winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Jonielle's career as she seeks to advance in the technology industry!

Noam Eshed Uses JnJ Scholarship at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Noam Eshed * Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to ten (10) students. One of those students is Noam Eshed of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Noam recently joined our BDPA New York chapter. When asked to share her thoughts on being a Johnson & Johnson scholar, Noam wrote,

I am a rising junior at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute studying for my dual Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering and computer & systems engineering. My current career goals include being a project lead on a new product to improve people’s lives.

I’ve had two previous internship experiences. The first was working in the Commercial Aviation Systems department at Elbit Systems of America in Merrimack, NH. There, my responsibilities included conducting optical testing on various models of the Enhanced Flight Vision System (EFVS) and creating guidance on upcoming FAA regulations regarding the EFVS.

My second internship was in information technology at Johnson & Johnson with the Enterprise Portfolio Management Office. I created job training surrounding portfolio management software, managed guidance material for the 2017 business planning cycle, and enhanced the portfolio online community. On top of these, I was also involved in portfolio sensing, using a text analytics tool to categorize portfolio investments by key words and creating data visualizations, allowing portfolio owners to have a clearer understanding of their portfolio’s financial breakdown.

The diverse community of students and professionals in STEM fields that the BDPA creates is vital in today’s world. As a woman in a male-driven field of study, Noam understands the importance of diversifying the workplace. In her sophomore year, Noam was disappointed to see that she was the only female inducted into my university’s chapter of Eta Kappa Nu, the honor society of IEEE. Therefore, it is critical and inspiring to her to see what the BDPA does to bring together professionals of all backgrounds, genders, and ethnicities to one technology-focused community.

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented technology student on board as both a member and as winner of the Johnson & Johnson Scholarship. We look forward to supporting Noam's career as she seeks to advance in the technology industry!

BDPA Cincinnati Chapter Competes at 2016 HSCC Championship

2016 HSCC Team

by Frank Hill

BDPA Cincinnati Chapter has trained High School students at Cincinnati State Technical College for the past 8 years.    The camp has 2 phases. Phase 1 is a 13-week program that trains area students on a variety of technical topics (Software, Robotics, 3D Printing, and Automation).

The second phases lasts 30 weeks and takes place on Saturdays. This phase prepares students for competition in a National High School Computer Competition.  Up to 10  students are trained during this phase.  The top five (5) students are selected to travel to a conference and compete for prizes and scholarships money.  Students are also eligible for scholarships based on academic and community service accomplishments.

BDPA Cincinnati chapter HSCC team traveled to Atlanta for the 38th annual BDPA Technology Conference on August 10-13, 2016. Teams participated in a 7.5 hour programming activity that required them to complete a secure, mobile responsive web site from requirements set by corporate judges. Students develop an User Interface, Middleware and Database during this period.   Students were then required to present their project to a team of judges and their code was inspected to ensure proper implementation. 

BDPA Cincinnati chapter HSCC team was Yaw Asante (Walnut Hills HS),  Jacob Koeninger (Campbell County HS),  Jalal Sylvester (Mason HS), Julian Pierre (Lakota West HS) and James Whitfield (Walnut Hill HS).  Our team placed in fifth place this year.  The team gained broad exposure to successful IT professionals and inspirational entrepreneurs.  Additionally, two BDPA Cincinnati students were recognized with $3000 scholarships from The Oracle Corporation. A total of $146,000 in scholarship money was distributed to high school and college students from all over the country.   The two winners were: Yaw Asante and Hasani Harrigan (Tuskegee University). 

Cincinnati State Technical College was also recognized at the conference as a Silver Level sponsor for ongoing support of BDPA training programs. BDPA training programs have help launch many successful young people over the years and it would not have been possible without great support from many people at Cincinnati State Technical College.

We are extremely proud and grateful for the support!!