High School Computer Competition (Greater Columbia, 2014)

BDPA Greater Columbia (chartered May 1997) reminds me of the little engine that could. The chapter has trained hundreds of K-12 students in its Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program over the years. The chapter has great community and corporate support through sponsors such as IT-oLogy. Many wonderful students, such as Anthony Coleman, Raven Stevenson and Brandi Taylor, from this chapter have received college scholarships as a result of their BDPA activity.



The next logical step is for BDPA Greater Columbia chapter to win the national BDPA HSCC championship. Could it happen this year?

BDPA Columbia chapter trained 15 students this year. Chapter volunteers worked with these students to develop and increase Information Technology skills and knowledge with seminars and workshops in web development (asp.net), programming (vb.net) databases (mysql), java script, system development life-cycle, web site story boarding and agile project management methodology. Also, these students participated in workshops focused on video creation and editing, creating web page profile, and oral presentations.

L-R: Perry Cates, Kevin Rabinovich, Joel Schirmer, Cody Shearer, James Smith,
Jalil Peterman, Makayla Ishaml, Constance Elkins and Braxton Robinson

The chapter would love to hoist a championship trophy. Whether they do or not ... our blog readers can help ensure that these young people receive college scholarships by simply making a secure online donation! We might find the next Raven Stevenson with your help!



What say u?

Related articles

• 36th Annual BDPA Technology Conference (Indianapolis, August 5-9, 2014)
• Overview: BDPA High School Computer Competition

BDPA Partners with US Navy to Create More Officers and Gentle(wo)men

The US Navy agreed to participate in the 2013 BDPA Technology Conference as part of its Diversity and Student Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) outreach programs. The Navy Recruiting Command is taking the lead for this event with a focus on workshops for students, parents and industry which foster year round engagement with BDPA for youth interested in STEM careers. Also, the Navy Recruiting Command will coordinate the presentation of their booth at the BDPA Career Fair on August 16-17, 2013 in Washington DC.

There is a rich history between BDPA and the US Navy. In 2010, Admiral Gary Roughead, then Chief Naval Officer, invited BDPA co-founder Earl Pace to the Pentagon to discuss expanded partnership between Navy and BDPA. Adm. Roughead felt Navy should expand its outreach engagements with BDPA over the next few years as BDPA is the only cyber-focused affinity group identified by the Navy.  This increased partnership now includes expanded year-round STEM-Intelligence/Cyber engagements with local BDPA chapters.

Earlier this year, Raven Stevenson, one of the alumni members of the BDPA High School Computer Competition program graduated from Duke University as a Navy Ensign becoming the organization's first student member to do so. Raven attended Duke University on a full Navy ROTC scholarship (valued at $180,000) that she earned at the 2009 BDPA Technology Conference.  Raven tells the story best herself in this video!

Another BDPA HSCC alumni student, Joseph Huggins, Jr. is on the journey as well. He agreed to join the US Navy in 2010.

BDPA looks forward to supporting the efforts of the Navy to identify additional information technology talent ... both seasoned professionals and young people ... during our upcoming conference. Kudos to BDPA account manager Perry Carter and National Office administrator Lesley Menor for working with the Navy to see this sponsorship renewal through to its conclusion.

Message from BDPA Greater Columbia Past Chapter President

Paulette and Raven

BDPA Members and Friends,

BDPA Greater Columbia chapter president Mildred Allen and I were honored to be present at the Naval Reserve Officers Training Corps Commissioning ceremony on Friday, May 10th at the Duke University Chapel, Duke University, in Durham, NC. Raven Stevenson, a graduate of our local High School Computer Competition (HSCC) training program, was commissioned in the United States Navy on Friday, and she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Biology from Duke University on Sunday. What an outstanding set of achievements!

You may remember Raven as the HSCC student who won the $180,000 scholarship in 2009 while competing at the HSCC competition in Washington, DC. Her fellow team members were Dominique Geiger and Sami Patel.

L-R: Rick Leggett, Paulette Johnson-Davis, Perry Carter, Mildred Allen, Ensign Raven Stevenson, Monique Berry and Carl Hill

After the Commissioning Ceremony, the BDPA Triangle Chapter hosted a reception for Raven and her family at the First Flight Venture Center in Durham, NC. The reception was attended by members of Raven’s family, National BDPA president Monique Berry, as well as by members of the BDPA Triangle, BDPA Washington DC and BDPA Greater Columbia Area chapters.

Ensign Stevenson will report in August 2013 to CG 66 USS HUE CITY in Mayport, Florida. We congratulate Raven on her outstanding accomplishments and wish her every success in the future.

Sincerely,
Paulette Johnson-Davis
Vice President of Business Management
BDPA Greater Columbia Area Chapter

BDPA HSCC Alum Raven Stevenson Becomes a Naval Officer

This BDPA Education and Technology Foundation blog first introduced Raven Stevenson back in 2009. She was a member of the High School Computer Competition team trained by BDPA Greater Columbia chapter to compete in the 2009 National BDPA High School Computer Competition (HSCC) championship. During that week Raven met with representatives from the US Navy ... and on the final night of the 2009 National BDPA Technology Conference, Raven accepted a full ride scholarship to Duke University using a Navy ROTC scholarship. Raven shared her story with us on the BDPA iRadio Show back in December 2011.

Fast forward to 2013. Midshipman Stevenson is a Neuroscience major and plans to attend medical school after completing the Navy's Basic Division Officer's Course and the Advanced Ship Handling and Tactics course required for Surface Warfare Officer qualifications. Midshipman First Class Stevenson will join her Navy and Marine Corps shipmates later this month during a formal Naval Officer Commissioning Ceremony for at the Duke University Chapel.

BDPA Triangle chapter will host a reception to honor Raven and her family on Friday, May 10, 2013.  Contact BDPA South Region director Teresa Williams (teresa.williams@bdpa.org) or BDPA Triangle chapter president Carl Hill (carl.hill@gtscloud.com) if you are interested in attending the BDPA reception.

If you are unable to attend in person, then perhaps you can help us provide college scholarships to the next generation of young people coming from Raven's home chapter in South Carolina. Visit the BDPA Greater Columbia HSCC Scholarship Fund and do what you think is best!

Celebrating (and Creating) a Proud Black History

Crossposted from Visions Online
by Henry Ford

Raven Stevenson

By the time the next issue is published, we will have honored Dr. Martin Luther King and celebrated Black History Month. On December 27th I had the pleasure of getting a head start by listening to a broadcast on the BDPA iRadio Show. The program featured three dynamic individuals, including Raven Stevenson, a student studying Biomedical Engineering at Duke University. Raven is also a member of the U.S. Naval Reserve and a former member of a BDPA High School Computer Competition Team trained by BDPA Greater Columbia chapter.

After listening to the broadcast, and communicating with Raven, it was clear that she represents the Black History that we dream of, pray for, and work for. Intelligent, involved, personable, grateful, and the list goes on and on. Because of the powerful and diverse content of the program, there will be more written and shared in the future on our inspirational blog.

We can best support and replicate the efforts of people like Raven by becoming committed to positive change. As Raven shared with the listening audience "...dreaming is achieving the impossible..."

Raven and others featured throughout this issue are representative of Dreamers and Doers, and we feel blessed to know and feature them.

Henry Ford

Continue to dream, and pray, and build and support, and grow into your possibilities. Whatever you do or fail to do in the coming days, weeks, months, and years will become a part of your life story, and the history that will be celebrated in the future.

---

Henry Ford is an author, speaker, consultant and publisher of VISIONS Online. Henry is BDPA Cleveland chapter member. He wrote the book, The Power of Association: Success Through Volunteerism.

BDPA iRadio Show - December 27, 2011

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) is very proud to be the creator of the BDPA iRadio Show. Our Internet Radio Show has been up and running for over five months with over 60 guests. You can listen to the archive version of the show using the widget shown in the right-hand sidebar of this blog.  

In any case, we encourage you to listen to the show which aired on Tuesday, December 27, 2011.

---

Listen to internet radio with BDPA on Blog Talk Radio

---

The guests on the show:

1. Angela Benton - CEO, Black Web Media - Angela Benton’s experience spans a variety of industries and roles. Throughout her career she has worked in a variety of roles in design, marketing, development, and digital strategy. Her expertise lies in New Media. Presently Angela is the CEO of Black Web Media, which publishes BlackWeb20.com the leading online publication for African Americans interested in Technology and New Media. Black Web Media’s mission is to be a catalyst for innovation and inclusive ideas on the web for African Americans. She also Founded and Chairs’ the New Media Entrepreneurship Conference & Accelerator, who’s goal is to steer the Internet economy to be more diverse and inclusive. You can follow Angela on Twitter - @ABenton

2. Raven Stevenson - HSCC Alumni, BDPA Greater Columbia - Raven was a HSCC participant at the 2009 national HSCC championship. During the conference she was interviewed by the US Navy. They offered her a full-ride scholarship (value: $180,000) to attend Duke University. She is serving in the US Naval reserves as a midshipman while she completes her education. She is scheduled to graduate in 2013 with a degree in Biology/Neuroscience. You can follow Raven on Twitter - @MoralyDeepRaven
3. Ramon Ray - Editor, SmallBizTechnology.com - Smallbiztechnology.com is a media company educating growing businesses in how to use technology as a tool to grow their businesses through events and online content. Ramon is author of “Technology Solutions for Growing Businesses”. He produces the Annual Small Business Summit, Taste of Technology Series, 12 Hours Of Tech and other events. Ramon has written over 8,000 articles and posts – all focused on technology for growing businesses. Ramon is on Twitter - @RamonRay

---

There will be great discussions between our guests and Franne McNeal on the show. What questions would you like to ask these guests?

Grant Recipient: BDPA Greater Columbia ($850)

BETF provided an $850 grant to support the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program implemented by BDPA Greater Columbia chapter.

The funds helped the high school computer competition (HSCC) team trained by BDPA Greater Columbia to participate in the Southeast Regional Competition. The three students on the team (Dominique Geiger, Sami Patel, Raven Stevenson and Courtland Thomas) took home the silver medal at the regional event in Charlotte NC.

Later the team travelled to Raleigh NC to compete in the national championships. The team finished in 19th place.

However, an unexpected serendipity happened at the Awards Gala during the conference. The United States Navy offered a $180,000 scholarship for Raven Stevenson to study biomedical engineering at Duke University!

Please call BETF on (513) 284-4968 or email us if you want to make a tax-deductible pledge in support of the restricted Greater Columbia Chapter Fund.

US Navy Seeks Workforce Pipeline of STEM-Focused Students

It was obvious to me that the United States Navy was on a mission during the 2009 National BDPA Technology Conference held in Raleigh NC earlier this month. The Navy needs to ensure that the pipeline of young people going through the public education system is trained sufficiently in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum. Only a strong STEM-focused nation can work in the future Navy.

As such, it was truly wonderful to see the strong presence of the US Navy during workshops, career fair and the Awards Gala. Speaking engagements were conducted by Asst SECNAV BJ Penn, VADM Harry Harris (OPNAV N6), Mr. Terry Halvorsen (Deputy Commander, NETWARCOM), Mr. Bob Whitkop (Executive Director, NGEN), CAPT Kent Flowers (CO, NROTC Savannah State) and CDR Ben McNeal (Chief Engineer, NGEN). Each of these speakers provided a glimpse into the US Navy that was eye-opening for most BDPA attendees.

My hope is that BDPA and the Navy will continue to build on their strategic alliance. The BDPA Education & Technology Foundation (BETF) hopes to be useful in setting up this strong value-added relationship.


An immediate success story occured when a BDPA high school computer competition student, Raven Stevenson (shown in photo with BDPA Greater Columbia chapter teammates Sami Patel and Dominique Geiger) received a NROTC scholarship to study Bio-Medical Engineering at Duke University.

Other interesting ways that BETF can leverage a stronger relationship with the US Navy and BDPA's youth education programs:

• BDPA College Students transition to Navy commissions via the Baccalaureate Degree Completion Program
• Officer Candidate School and Naval Postgraduate School for college graduates in the information technology arena is to become Information Warfare officers to learn how to defend our nation from cyber warfare.
• High School members could go to Naval ROTC. Raven Stevenson earned her scholarship through the Immediate Selection Program for high school seniors with a 1250 SAT and other eligibility requirements. BDPA can send letters of endorsement on applicants with an SAT below 1250. Lower SAT candidates are selected through a selection board process. Does your chapter have any students with 1250 SAT score?
• Gaining admission into the Naval Academy is a more challenging process, but yields a significant reward. Some of the BDPA high school candidates may be offered Naval Academy Prep School which is a good deal and a direct path to an appointment. Don't be put off by the congressional appointment process. It is a process and there are a number of opportunities.

BDPA's youth education programs regularly engage with young people of Raven's stature and accomplishments. Methinks that we should be able to identify at least 10 other BDPA students from our HSCC Alumni. The opportunity should exist for many more NROTC scholarship presentations in the future. BETF plans to explore this opportunity with US Navy officials.

What is your view of the growing relationship between BDPA, BETF and the US Navy?