Congressional High School App Contest

This year marks the first annual Congressional STEM Academic Competition, the “House App Contest.” This new competition is designed to engage student’s creativity and encourage their participation in STEM education fields. Established by Members of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2013, this competition is a nationwide event that allows high school students from across the country to compete by creating and exhibiting their software application, or “app,” for mobile, tablet, or computer devices on a platform of their choice.

The “House App Challenge” is open to all high school students in participating districts. Students entering the competition must submit their app’s source code online by April 30th.

Can I Participate?

• Members of Congress must opt-in for their district to participate in this competition. If a Member does not opt-in, constituents in their district will be ineligible to participate. Find out if I am eligible.
• The Competition is open only to high school students who reside in a participating district or who are eligible to attend public high school in that district. Individuals submitting on behalf of teams must meet the eligibility requirements for individual Contestants

To Register

To enter, the student must register for the House Student App Challenge under their participating Member of Congress’ profile and register on www.challengepost.com during the Competition Submission Period. All entries must be an original in concept, design and execution.

• Register for the House Student App Challenge 
• Register at http://housestudentapps.challengepost.com/

Encourage your member of Congress to participate today!

Related articles

• Virginia Congressman invites students to app design contest

Contest: 2014 BDPA Technology Conference Theme

BDPA is hosting the 2014 Annual Technology Conference & Career Expo in Indianapolis, IN and we need YOU to help us! We need a conference theme. The conference theme sets the overall tone for the conference and draws in technology professionals from local, national and global corners. A theme should catch our attention and make us want to head to the conference.

Here are themes from the past 35 BDPA conferences:

History: BDPA Conference Themes from Wayne Hicks

We're offering a $100 gift card prize for a winning theme!

Please enter your submission on the BDPA member portal for your chance to win. The members will vote and select the winning theme. The winning theme and writer will be announced at the conference later this year in Washington DC.

Deadline for submission is July 15, 2013

National STEM Video Game Challenge

BDPA trains hundreds of students each year in a variety of STEM-based topics. We had about 20 teams represented a few months ago at the 2011 National BDPA High School Computer Competition championships. With all of that talent ... it is time for us to get a little bit gangsta with STEM opportunities outside of the BDPA family.

For example, I would encourage all BDPA members (local, regional or national) to consider making a submission for the 2012 edition of the National STEM Video Game Challenge!   It is time for us to prove that people of African descent can do more than simply play video games ... it is time for us to show that we can also create video games.

This year, there are categories for Middle School (grades 5-8) and High School (grades 9-12) students in which participants can design games individually or in teams with a chance to win prizes like laptop computers and money for their schools or the nonprofit organization of their choice. [NOTE: Please ensure that your choice is the BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF)!]

There are also categories for College (undergraduate and graduate) students and Professional Educators. These categories offer a variety of entry streams that encourage designers to create original learning games with an opportunity to win funds, research support, the opportunity to work with industry experts and publicity.

On the Challenge website, you'll find more information on how to enter, prizes, the complete official rules and great resources to help you get started in making your game. Just remember that the entry period closes on March 12, 2012.

If you have any questions about the Challenge, please do not hesitate to contact the folks who can answer by using their online contact form ... or by sending email to support@stemchallenge.org.

I know that we have BDPA members of all ages that have either played a video game, created a video game or THOUGHT ABOUT creating a video game. If so, I truly hope that you will step up and meet the National STEM Video Game Challenge!

BDPA Member-Get-A-Member Drive - Grand Prize is an Apple iPad

BDPA recently launched its new 2011 Member-Get-A-Member Recruitment Drive with an Apple iPad as the grand prize! Current members are the ideal ambassadors to communicate the advantages of joining BDPA to prospective members,and those who participate by telling friends and colleagues about BDPA may be eligible for valuable gifts and special recognition. BDPA's Online Member-Get-A-Member program is interactive, easy to use,and rewards members for helping to recruit new members. The drive ends December 31, 2011.

Welcome to the 2011 BDPA Member-Get-A-Member Drive-- your opportunity to share the value of a BDPA membership with your friends and colleagues, and receive free gifts in the process!
HOW THE PROGRAM WORKS:

1. Tell your friends, peers, and co-workers about BDPA. Simply go to the Refer A Friend link on your BDPA personal profile page, enter your referral's email address and send them a special email invitation to join.
   
2. You will receive an entry to win a free gift when your first referral joins, as well as an additional entry for each additional referral that joins.
PRIZES:
• Conference Registration
• Apple iPod
• Xbox
• Sony PlayStation
• Wii
3. Shortly after the completion of the current Member-Get-A-Member Drive on December 31, 2011, the top qualifying members will be notified that they will also receive special Grand Prize.

Google Code-In

Soulclap to BDPA Chicago chapter member Bruce Montgomery for pointing us to Google Code-in.  Google created this contest, starting on November 22, 2010, to introduce pre-university students to the many kinds of contributions that make open source software development possible.

How cool would it be to see some of our BDPA students engaged in this contest? Our students are quite capable of producing a variety of open source code, documentation, training materials and user experience research. Google Code-in tasks include:

1. Code: Tasks related to writing or refactoring code
2. Documentation: Tasks related to creating/editing documents
3. Outreach: Tasks related to community management and outreach/marketing
4. Quality Assurance: Tasks related to testing and ensuring code is of high quality
5. Research: Tasks related to studying a problem and recommending solutions
6. Training: Tasks related to helping others learn more
7. Translation: Tasks related to localization
8. User Interface: Tasks related to user experience research or user interface design and interaction

You can learn more from the Google Open Source Blog or by subscribing to the contest  announcement list for updates.

DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition

The 24th annual DuPont Challenge Science Essay Competition is underway and is accepting entries now through January 31, 2010. Designed to inspire young people to excel in scientific writing, the competition invites students in 7th through 12th grade to research and write a 700- to 1,000-word essay about a scientific discovery, theory, event or technological application that has captured their interest.

Essays are judged on mechanics and conventions; ideas and content; organization; style and creativity; and voice. Winners receive savings bonds up to $5,000 and an expenses paid trip to Walt Disney World and the Kennedy Space Center.

The program also rewards the unique contributions of the teachers of the winning students with trips with winners, $500 education grants, and sponsorship to attend the 2011 NSTA National Conference on Science Education in San Francisco. Created to honor the Challenger astronauts, this competition is a great way to get students to push the limits of imagination and discovery.

Charities Reap Benefits of Contests on Internet

The opportunities for nonprofit groups to win money through contests are proliferating, adding yet another weapon to charities’ fund-raising arsenal.

The latest example started yesterday when visitors to the Target Corporation’s Facebook page began voting for one of 10 charities eligible to win a portion of $3 million the retailer will be giving away.

“It’s a national trend, not only in the philanthropic sector but also among businesses, to look at how best to leverage social media,” said Laysha Ward, Target’s president of community relations. “Contests like this can help our nonprofit partners learn to use this new media to build not just financial resources but also awareness.”

Read the rest of the article here.

Blacks @ Microsoft Seeks Essays for Minority Student Day

Blacks @ Microsoft (BAM), a diversity advisory council within the Microsoft Corporation, hosts an annual Minority Student Day every February. The goal of the event, which was first held in 1992, is to provide area high school students from underrepresented ethnic backgrounds with information about the exciting tools, resources, and career opportunities available to them in information technology.

Throughout the day, Microsoft employees guide students through hands-on technology labs and information sessions. Employees also serve as mentors, talking with students about the wide variety of career opportunities available to them in technology.

BDPA student members are encouraged to provide an essay for this year's program!

Voice of the Next Generation Student Essay Contest

FedEx is interested in learning how Generation Y (Gen Y) views Access. To find out where Access will take us next, FedEx and Net Impact have launched an exciting new essay contest.

They challenge Gen Y undergraduate and graduate-level students to voice their ideas on where Access will take the world next and how it will impact business, technology, medicine, the environment, the economy and so forth in a 1000 - 1,500 word essay.

SunTrust Bank Donates $100 to BDPA Foundation for New Accounts

SunTrust Bank has made community involvement an important part of the relationships they have in the communities they serve. Now, as part of their commitment, they’re offering a special opportunity that can help you help the BDPA Education & Technology Foundation.

Act Now. Offer extended to December 31, 2008.
SunTrust will donate $100 to the charity of your choice, or you can choose to receive a $50 Gift Card to keep for your own cause when you take 3 simple steps:

1. Open a new Personal or Business checking account from now through December 31, 2008


2. Accept a new SunTrust Visa® Check Card and make any purchase using your new card by February 15, 2009


3. Complete and submit a redemption form by February 15, 2009

SunTrust extended this promotion through December 31, 2008. This promotion is open to anyone in the nation willing to open up a checking or business account with SunTrust Bank.

2008 Digital Media and Learning Competition

We want to encourage all BDPAers to check out the $2 million Digital Media and Learning Competition focused on participatory learning.

Participatory learning is defined broadly: using new digital media for sharing ideas or planning, designing, implementing, or just discussing ideas and goals together.

Application Deadline: October 15, 2008

Full information at: http://www.dmlcompetition.net/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmlComp

Awards will be made in two categories:

Innovation in Participatory Learning Awards support large-scale digital learning projects ($30,000-$250,000) - This year we are piloting international eligibility for our Innovation Award and will be accepting submissions from primary applicants in Canada, People's Republic of China, India, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States; collaborators can be from anywhere in the world.
……

Young Innovator Awards are targeted at U.S. applicants aged 18-25 year olds ($5,000-$30,000).

It would be nice to see some BDPA professionals and students participating in the competition this year!

Lincoln Forum Essay Contest

The Lincoln Forum is an assembly of people who share a deep interest in the life and times of Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War era. Through a roster of activities and projects including symposia, tours, student essay competitions, a newsletter and an annual award to recognize special contributions to the field of Lincoln studies, the Forum endeavors to enhance the understanding and preserve the memory of Abraham Lincoln.

The scholarship essay contest is designed for students who are full time students in an American college or university during the Spring 2008 semester. The July 31 deadline is designed to give these students time to finish their essays, if need be, after final exams.

You do not have to be an American citizen, but you do need to be attending an American college or university during the eligibility period.

It is NOT open to high school students. Key question to consider; when we contact your college or university registrar will they be able to confirm that you were enrolled as a full-time college student during the spring 2008 semester? If the answer is no, you are not eligible.

You can win from $250 - $1,000 in this essay contest. [SOURCE]