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!

Pierre Cireus Uses His Johnson & Johnson Scholarship at FAMU

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is proud to announce that Johnson & Johnson awarded a $2,500 college scholarship to nine (9) students. One of those students is Pierre Cireus from Tallahassee, Florida, who will use the scholarship to support his study of computer science at Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU).

Pierre Cireus was born in Haiti in 1998, but he moved to the USA with his parents in 2007. He graduated high school with Honors in 2016 while I was enrolled in dual enrollment at Polk State College, a local community college.

Pierre Cireus * JnJ Scholar

Over the summer of 2017, Pierre interned at Ion Media in Clearwater, FL. Later that summer Pierre was in a study abroad program in Brazil, Sao Paulo. He is a growing linguist with fluency in four languages (English, Creole, Spanish, and Portuguese). He plans to graduate in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in computer science, and then study abroad in pursuit of a masters in international business and interpretations.

We asked Pierre to share his thoughts on BDPA:

"My involvement in BDPA chapter is not very extensive. My University does not have a chapter of its own (hence I could not participate in all the activities), therefore I was simply adopted by BDPA Orlando a few months ago. Although, I have to say, the BDPA chapter offers a lot of opportunities for young African American men and women to learn and pursue an education, and that is how the BDPA chapter has impacted me."

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

Adrienne Nelson Earns 2016 Lilly Scholarship for Florida A&M University

Adrienne Nelson (FAMU)

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) worked closely with Eli Lilly & Company to confirm Adrienne Nelson as a winner of the 10th annual Eli Lilly & Company Scholarship for BDPA students. Adrienne is a wonderful person to win this prestigious scholarship.

Adrienne is pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, Florida. Adrienne is a Student Ambassador for the Florida Information Technology Career Alliance where she works on projects supporting the computer science, information technology and information systems programs for Florida A&M. Additionally, Adrienne is a Learning Assistant providing instructional aid during the semester to enhance the learning process for IT students. Adrienne also serves as a 4-H Youth Camp Counselor and Adult Leader assisting 4-H officers during camp programs and encouraging youth to participate in 4-H.

We asked Adrienne to share her thoughts on BDPA,

"Being able to participate in the 2016 National BDPA Conference has been an unforgettable experience. It has cause unmeasurable growth professionally and intellectually throughout the many opportunities that this conference allowed. I not only placed in the BDPA IT Showcase for college participants but I also had the opportunity to speak with other companies for internship opportunities, leading to further networking and even interviews. I thoroughly enjoyed the conference and I look forward to attending future BDPA events."

Adrienne is a remarkable young woman. BDPA looks forward to following her career as she progresses through college and on into her career in the IT industry! You can follow Adrienne on Twitter: @AKA_Nelson

African American Women in Computer Science

The Florida A&M University (FAMU) Computer Information Sciences (CIS) Program is the recipient of a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant valued at $552,000 dedicated to recruiting women of color to computer science and information technology disciplines.

“The numbers are staggering,” said Jason T. Black, Ph. D., assistant professor in CIS. “The latest data shows that out of all U.S. entering freshmen declaring a major in computer science, African-American women made up only 3.3 percent. The fact is that women are not choosing technology, and this is a dangerous predicament. When you couple that with the fact that it is estimated that 75 percent of all jobs by the year 2020 will require a technology background, it becomes a crisis call.”

The program, entitled African American Women in Computer Science (AAWCS), is a four-year program that provides scholarships and other assistance to women who express a financial need and an interest in computer science or information technology.

AAWCS will directly address the dismal number of minority women, particularly African American women that pursue degrees in computer science or information technology.

Women who apply to AAWCS will be accepted based on financial need, and will be awarded a scholarship of between $3,000 and $5,000 per semester. In addition to the funding, the women will participate in CIS departmental organizations and they will also be involved in other STEM programs, such as the Florida/Georgia Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (FGLSAMP) scholarship program, and the Students and Technology in Academia, Research and Service (STARS) Alliance, both NSF-funded programs.

An added benefit to the students is the conference participation, where selected AAWCS scholars will be chosen to attend two national conferences, paid for by the grant, each year, such as the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing and the National Conference of Women in Information Technology (NCWIT).

The AAWCS program begins operation on July 1 and will run until June 30, 2012. Applications for the program can be requested by contacting Black at jblack@cis.famu.edu or (850) 412-7354.