BDPA Twin Cities SITES Program (2013)

The Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) program has been up and running for over a quarter century within BDPA. Two of the frequent initiatives under the SITES umbrella are the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) and the BDPA IT Showcase. BDPA Twin Cities chapter has a powerful legacy in both of these student initiatives since its founding in January 1989.

BDPA Twin Cities chapter student training program is free and available to all students with a passion for technology. It is held on Saturdays and includes three levels of education. BDPA thrives from a great group of dedicated volunteers and parents. This year, the “circle of learning” continues as HSCC alumni return to teach and coach new students. Classes are exciting as students learn programming languages (HTML, CSS, JavaScript, C#, MySQL), web development, project management, and team building skills. They also gain insight from IT professionals that come in every week to share their career experience. By the end of our program, students become young IT leaders and take pride in being “Nerdy”.

L-R: Kelly Martin, Samuel Odumakin, Sifora Tek-Lab, Jesus Vega, Justin Wulf, Opeyemi OdumakinJorian Wulf, Qadre Ayinde, Kiani Burkett, Roman Gradford, Joshua Cunningham, Hillary Thomas Jr., Diliet “Shortcut” Tekie, Salvador Rojas, Jonathan Rojas, Xzavier Wells, Isaiah Brown, Alondra Rojas, Phoenix Lewis, Ariana Pope, Aron Tek-Lab, and Daze Davison

BDPA Education and Technology Foundation (BETF) urges you to reach deep to support these young people. Please make a secure online donation and designate it in support of the BDPA Twin Cities programs, scholarships and services.

Letter from BDPA Twin Cities HSCC Coordinator

Michael Wulf

BDPA Chapter Presidents, Officers, Members, & Volunteers!

My name is Michael Wulf and I’m a candidate running for BDPA Midwest Region Vice President.

With only a few weeks before we travel to the 35th Annual BDPA Technical Conference & Career Expo I wanted to introduce myself to each chapter in the Midwest Region and ask consideration for your support in my decision to run for office.

In the past 8 years I’ve been a volunteer heavily engaged in the BDPA Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program ... more specifically, the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) program in the Twin Cities. Most of you know me as their HSCC Coordinator. As a leader in corporate America, I use a collaborative style of management. In this role I view myself in the same capacity - in a supportive role to assist in making BDPA even more successful building on the great work of predecessors.

In this role I will partner with the elected National President, Regional Director, and many others to empower our Midwest region to be the best in BDPA!

Given the opportunity to be elected by your chapter delegates at the national conference my goals are:

• Expand communication between chapters, national and BETF.
• Grow membership and reactive inactive chapters in the region.
• Support local chapter and national initiatives.
• Support membership growth.
• Support youth education, professional development, and HSCC competition.

Given the opportunity to serve in this capacity my intention is together establish a Midwest action plan to align and accomplish our combined prioritized goals. I have the experience, passion and determination to deliver on what is needed. Together we can make a difference at a higher level than ever dreamed.

Things you may not have known about me that you may want to know why serving in this capacity is important.

• Father of a blended family with two daughters, two sons, and three grandchildren. Education and the mission of BDPA means a great deal to me.
• Extremely knowledgeable in the management of geographically dispersed matrix organizations – much like our Midwest region is organized. Veteran IT Professional serving IT for 32 years.
• I live in the “Midwest” keeping homes in both Minnesota and Illinois.

Sending this memo in advance of the national election to allow us both the opportunity to talk by phone. I will attempt to call you, however I can be reached at (651) 261-0408. See you at the “Get to know the candidate session” (8/14/2013).

Sincerely,
Michael G. Wulf, Candidate
BDPA Midwest Region Vice President

VIDEO: 'Your Future in IT Starts Today'

There are upwards of 500 students engaged in BDPA computer camps around the nation on any given weekend. Here is a video that can be shared with each of those students and their parents during orientation. This video production is the creation of BDPA Twin Cities chapter leader Michael Wulf.



What did you think of Michael's video vignette?

Future Face of Technology: Emmaly Manchanthasouk (CEO, Emmapowerment Designs)

Emmaly Manchanthasouk was a member of the 2008 and 2009 HSCC teams trained by BDPA Twin Cities. She earned college scholarship funding based on the team's high placement in the 2009 HSCC championship. Earlier this month Emmaly was a featured speaker at the BDPA Twin Cities Awards Gala. BDPA Education and Technology Foundation is very proud of Emmaly on any number of levels. She is truly the 'future face of technology'

CEO of Emmapowerment Designs, Manchanthasouk, graduated in Computer Science concentrating in Information Systems with a minor in Fashion Design at the University of St. Thomas.  Her software development company specializes in user interface design, database design and the re-engineering of legacy systems.

A proud Lao woman, she has the passion & heart to empower the underprivileged and bring social change to women across the world. AND she does it all while flaunting her pink zebra obsession.

She lives with her husband in the suburbs of Minnesota with her 2 baby zebras. She claims she cooks the best Lao food."

"I'm such a nerd for doing this but this is the kind of woman I want to be one day. I dream big," admitted Manchanthasouk.

Help BDPA fund college scholarships for the 'future faces of technology' by making a secure online donation right now!

BDPA Twin Cities Students Strive for 'Aspirations in Computing Award'

Sifora Tek-Lab is a junior at Eastview High School in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Gabriella Knight is a freshman at the University of Minnesota. Both of these young ladies have been part of the Student Information Technology Education & Scholarship (SITES) program hosted by our BDPA Twin Cities chapter over the past three years. In fact, Sifora was part of the High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team that took home 5th place in the 2012 National BDPA HSCC championship held recently in Baltimore.

Sifora is on far-right as member of 2012 HSCC Team

We are very proud to note that Sifora and Gabriella are both competing for the national 'Aspirations in Computing Award' given out by the National Center for Women and Information Technology.  The award goes to deserving young women that are engaged in a variety of technology programs ... such as SITES. Both young women were recently supported in their 'Aspiration Award' efforts by the IT community in Minneapolis.

Learn more from the following video of an interview conducted by local television station, KARE-12 back on October 20, 2012:



Please take a moment to POST YOUR COMMENT as encouragement to these two remarkable BDPA student members!