Braxton Smith Will Use Bemley Scholarship at North Carolina A&T State University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Braxton Smith will use the Bemley Scholarship awarded all the members of the BDPA Triangle High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team with a $1,000 college scholarship at North Carolina A&T State University.

Braxton Smith * Bemley Scholar

Braxton had a 4.0 GPA in high school and his overarching goal is to study computer science and utilize the skills he learns to enter the information technology field.   Braxton was a member of Art Club, Anime Club, Music Club and Computer Club. He has been a bowler for the last 13 years and he joined Movement of Youth, a mentoring and volunteer program that exposes students to the ‘college experience’. He volunteered at several local groups, such as Project Seeds, Durham Urban Ministries and the Durham Rescue Mission. Braxton also assisted Omega Psi Phi Fraternity as a volunteer at several church outreach programs. He worked as a summer intern with CISCO configuring servers in conjunction with being an apprentice with the Shodor Foundation. Both positions allowed him to work with web design, code development and languages and mathematical calculations. To finish it all off, Braxton worked in the Genome Science Department at Duke University.

Braxton plans to study computer science at North Carolina A&T State University. Braxton believes in the personal statement from Colin Powell, "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

We asked Braxton to share his personal testimonial on BDPA:

2017 BDPA Triangle (Braxton is on the right)

"I have been with the BDPA for a total of two years and in that time-frame I have had the honor and privilege of doing things people dream about. I got to attend two national conferences as the lead front end coder for the High School Computer Competition team. Since the first day I entered the BDPA, I have been truly taken from the classroom to the boardroom. Better than that, I found a second family at BDPA Triangle Chapter, one where the bonds between us members cannot be broken. My success that is to come is greatly due to this family I share here and I will not hesitate to come back and assist the Triangle Chapter with HSCC teaching or just for motivation. Additionally, I look forward to possibly partake in the college BDPA IT Showcase and BDPA Mobile Application  Showcase competitions. In conclusion, BDPA is an organization, group, and a family that I would recommend to any hungry, curious mind that searches for ways to truly disrupt the system."

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