Grant Proposal: Express Scripts Foundation (BDPA St. Louis)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with the officers of the BDPA St. Louis chapter to submit a grant proposal to the Express Scripts Foundation seeking $10,000 for the 2018 Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program. We hope to have an answer by March 2018.

Diversity is an important enabler of the inclusive company culture at Express Scripts, and they gain strength from the amazing tapestry of employee perspectives and experiences. Diversity goes beyond surface human characteristics – fundamentally, we’re all diverse in our backgrounds, beliefs and interests, and in how we think, work and live. Because Express Scripts embrace diversity and inclusion, their employees can be honest and open about who they are, and can bring their “whole self” to work.

Express Scripts is proud to have been named a leader among Fortune 25 companies with a workforce that is 69% female and 39% minority. Over 45% of it's leaders (director level or higher) are female and our commitment to diversity has been publicly recognized by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation (100% on the 2017 Corporate Equality Index) and by DiversityInc (listed as top 25 noteworthy company for 2016).

BETF is willing to work with any of the 46 local BDPA chapters to obtain the funding that they need to successfully deliver their 2018 SITES program. Simply reach out to the BETF executive director if you have questions or wish to discuss further.  

Ashley Shorter Uses Wanda Everett Scholarship at Florida A&M University

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Daugherty Business Solutions awarded a $2,500 college Wanda Everett scholarship to Ashley Shorter.  Ashley is a member of the BDPA St. Louis chapter who will use the scholarship to pursue her computer science degree.

Ashley Shorter

Ashley Shorter is a second year computer science student attending Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University. My career goals include becoming a software developer to increase the diversity pipeline at major technology companies. While she is in school, Ashley works in the ITS Department as a Web Developer, and she is currently a Web Development Engineer Intern at Express Scripts.

We asked Ashley to share her thoughts on BDPA:

"I began my involvement with BDPA during my junior year of high school in the High School Computer Competition in the St. Louis Chapter. Since then, my personal network and knowledge of the IT industry has expanded immensely. What I learned during HSCC enabled me to get a job at my university as a Web Developer as well as a summer internship on the Web Optimization team. I continue my involvement with BDPA by competing in the Mobile Application Competition this year, and I will continue my participation with BDPA for many years to come."

BDPA is blessed to have such a young and talented student as a winner of the Wanda Everett Scholarship for BDPA Students. We look forward to supporting Ashley's career as she seeks to advance her career in the technology industry!