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HIGH SCHOOL COMPUTER COMPETITION TESTIMONIALS

Closing the gap of computer and technology literacy through the education of advanced

computer science and community responsibility

QUIN RAYEDallas (1998-2001)

Every child has a dream or vision of what they want to be when they “grow up”, and for me all I could see in my future was medicine. Well that all changed during my seventh grade year, of middle school when I became part of BDPA, suddenly I wanted to work within the IT field. I’ve been a member of BDPA for ten years and my involvement in this organization had a huge impact on my current career. Not only did BDPA provide me with outstanding programming skills, but this organization has helped me overcome my fear of public speaking and gave me an extra boost in my confidence level. Having the opportunity to learn so much and network with so many people gave me more of competitive edge when I entered into the realm of Corporate America. I am currently an Information Analyst at a large Oil company located in Houston, TX and I have BDPA to thank for a part of my success.

STEPHANIE LAMPKINWashington DC (2000)

I can’t nearly take all the credit for what I’ve accomplished because there have been organizations such as BDPA and the amazingly altruistic people involved who have helped me stay on the right track and focus my energies in areas most beneficial to my future.  As a matter of fact, I wouldn’t hesitate to say that BDPA was the first organization to reach out to me and provide me with the tools necessary to lay down the foundation of which I will continually build upon to reach my goals in life. My passion for computers and technology are what initially drew me into the HSCC program and what I took away from the experience was more than I expected. Though our team did not perform well during the competitions, it did not take away from the empowerment and encouragement I felt when I saw hundreds of African American professional women and men representing success, leadership, and cultural responsibility.  People who were committed to ensuring that kids like me, who did not come from the most uplifting environments, would still have the opportunity to explore a vastly growing field with endless possibilities.

EVAN HILLIARDCharlotte (2000-2001)

When I first learned about the BDPA, I had already been into computers and technology for quite some time. The HSCC program seemed to be right up my alley to develop new skills as well as the opportunity to network amongst my fellow I.T. peers. What I thought would initially be something cool to do for a summer quickly turned into very lengthy and life changing experience. I cannot put into word how much I grew as an IT professional, but just as a person interacting with an organization that had a family feel to it. There are so many positives about being on a HSCC team … I do not even know where to begin. You learn how build team work skills, working with a deadline, presentation skills, leadership development, networking skills,  research\creative skills, technical skills…..the list is almost endless. The only negative the ever comes to mind is the amount of students who are unaware and do not take advantage of all the wonderful things HSCC program has to offer. I hope that by sharing my experiences and knowledge with rest of my peers that it will motivate everyone to get involved and come together to do some great things…I thank the BDPA for all of the wonderful people and experiences I have had throughout the years and I only expect more from the premiere IT organization in the nation.

REGINALD JAMERSONCharlotte (2002)

During my senior year of high school, I was informed by my guidance counselor about a BDPA computer training program for youth. I decided to give it a try to see what type of computer knowledge I could gain from the program. From day one I was impressed with the set goals and leadership provided by my BDPA Charlotte Chapter. The students were all very willing to learn and focused on improving their programming skill set. I learned about teamwork and felt as though I was apart of something bigger than myself…I’ll never forget the lessons learned at the BDPA conference and how it in a way prepared me for my freshman year of college. I currently work as a Networking IT professional for Wachovia and have goals to become an entrepreneur . This was an invaluable experience!

RAMALA ANDEMARIAMCincinnati (2003-2005)

I remember when I first started BDPA. I was in 10th grade and I got some information from my web design teacher about BDPA. I've been interested in making websites for a while and I was also learning it on my own so this was a great opportunity for me to find out what this organization offered…I love to compete and BDPA gave me the perfect setting to do just that. Throughout my BDPA journey, there were a lot of opportunities for me to learn and experience new things…My initial interest in technology was what guided me to join BDPA. Once in BDPA, I learned a lot of things that helped me succeed in college. Being an IT major, there was a lot of knowledge that transferred directly to my daily school work from those BDPA classes. It is by far the best educational and fun experience I've had to date.

JULIA BERGBoston Metrowest (2004)

You have eight hours to create an online DVD rental store. You will be judged on teamwork, solution elegance, unique Graphic User Interface (GUI), and the completeness of the application. You may use your choice of Sun Microsystems Java Technology, Microsoft ASP, Open Source Software PHP, or Microsoft.NET, as your database technology. READY..SET..GO…I remember looking around the table and the adrenaline rush that streamed through my body. Never had I been so proud of my peers and myself…The long Saturday classes, the trip across the nation, the individual quiz bowl, and now the eight-hour programming contest! This was actually fun for me- what once was overwhelming was now a natural routine. Fingers typing, ideas flowing, this was what I was meant to do…I left that Texas ballroom with the confidence to succeed. For the last four years I have dedicated myself to fulfilling my own dreams. I started a web design company and have worked with major organizations such as the Museum of Science and Intel Computer Clubhouse, a global organization that gives minority children the opportunity to learn computer technology. I hope to guide them like BDPA guided me, by following the trails blazed by influential pioneers like Mae Jemison. Why not go for it?

SYED AZFARBoston Metrowest (2004-2006)

Before I joined BDPA…All I did on the computer was play games and instant message with friends. It all changed when I joined the BDPA Boston Metrowest chapter… During the next few months, we learned how to create databases and connect website to it in order to view and save information. After months of training, it was time to put it to the test. We flew down to Dallas, Texas for three days to participate in the high school computer competition…Attending that BDPA conference was one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had and to this day I am still part of BDPA and I encourage young students to join this great organization. I am very fortunate to have learned about this organization and to be part of it.

NICK AKOGYERAMSouthern Minnesota (2005)

My first experience with Computer Science and Information Technology came in my sophomore year of high school.  I was part of the Southern Minnesota BDPA chapter from 2004 to 2006. My parents wanted my brother and me to join this extracurricular activity…We were not particularly excited about giving up our Saturday mornings to do more work in addition to our school work. After attending the first class, my brother and I met some teenagers from other area schools that we knew and some that we didn’t know so well…I began to genuinely enjoy the class and made many friends that I may not have met under normal circumstances…The classes and months went by quickly, almost without my noticing.  Then in June, the Southern Minnesota chapter held a test to decide which students would be on the High School Computer Competition team that would compete at the competition…And to my surprise, I was selected to be one of the five students to represent our chapter…My overall experience was priceless and I am so thankful for the friends and skills that I obtained from BDPA.  I would not trade it for anything, and I will testify to everyone that they should try new things because one will never know what one is capable of.

JESSICA MERIE ANDERSON Twin Cities (2005)

BDPA has been a part of my life since grade school and given me skills that have contributed to my success and landed me great opportunities! At first, I could never understand why binary numbers, databases, ASP, PHP, and HTML were so important, let alone why I enjoyed going every Saturday to learn something so foreign to me. Although at times I found myself frustrated, I got up every Saturday morning because I enjoy the challenge…Learning how to program at BDPA has helped me in courses such as C++ and Java in college. I find myself less frustrated and more successful than my classmates because of my previous training. The programming skills and knowledge of technology that I learned in BDPA and in college have made me a more marketable candidate and set me apart from all other applicants when applying for jobs and internships! 

LAUREN PEMBERTON, Southern Minnesota (2005-2008)From the moment I attended my first class with BDPA, I was addicted to learning all I could about programming, computers, design, and anything else my teachers mentioned. I felt that if I did not go, I was missing something valuable and interesting, so I continued to attend every Saturday. It was certainly a unique experience to have such a creative, stimulating, and accepting environment available every weekend. Being a new member of BDPA and new to the concept of programming itself, I was surprised and honored when chosen as a member of the five-person team for the 2005 conference in Detroit. I was assigned the job of presentation coordinator and familiarized with the competition details. After a summer filled with concentrated preparation, I was elated when we won 1st place in the High School Computer Competition…I am not considered a minority in my “normal” life, but I am fortunate enough to have been able to exist in such a situation with the HSCC because it has changed my outlook on life forever. I was welcomed into BDPA and their programming class by supportive teachers and motivated students like myself. When I joined this class, I was under the notion that I was not a minority, but now I know what I am … I am a teenager who knows how to program in PHP and has a passion for learning.  I know that I would never have become the knowledgeable and strong person I am today if I had not joined this outstanding program.

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BDPAHIGH SCHOOL COMPUTER

COMPETITION TESTIMONIALS

Taking students from the classroom to the boardroom

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation

4423 Lehigh Road, #277

College Park, MD 20740

(513) 284-4968