Student Programs




Student Information Technology Education and Scholarship (SITES) & National High School Computer Competition (HSCC)

Throughout the year, local chapters conduct SITES training programs for the youth in their communities. These programs are designed to expose our youth to the concepts of computers and give them the expertise to develop web applications. Some chapters will participate in regional competitions throughout the country to further prepare their students. Each BDPA chapter is able to send one team of 3 to 5 students to the National Conference to compete against teams from chapters all over the country.

The BDPA National High School Computer Competition, (HSCC), was founded in 1986 by Dr. Jesse Bemley, of Washington, D.C. What started as a two-team event between Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, Ga. has grown to over 20 teams of various high school students from chapters throughout the nation. It's all designed to introduce our Youth to the field of Information Technology, encourage them to seek higher levels of education, and groom many of them to become our next generation of IT professionals.

Once at the National Conference, students will be able to attend Workshops and Seminars covering topics related to Personal Development, Academic Development, Youth Entrepreneurship and Information Technology. They will be able to participate in activities including, Corporate Sponsored luncheons and receptions, visits to educational places in the hosting city (i.e. museums), and networking evenings with IT professionals and students from around the country. On top of all this, they get to showcase their talents in the National Competition which consists of a timed computerized written exam, oral questions and the development of a web application per specifications. If they feel creative, they can also participate in a T-Shirt Design Competition.

Student Eligibility

Students who will be entering the 9th through 12th grade during August or September or graduating from high school the year of the competition are eligible to participate. They must also be a member of BDPA and sponsored by a local chapter.


Teacher For A Day

BDPA Chicago Director of Marketing Martin Brown participated in the Chicago Public Schools "Teacher for A Day" Program at Coles Elementary Language Academy, 8441 S. Yates Boulevard. The program called for community leaders and business professionals to spend part of one school day observing a class in a local area school and sharing a bit of their business "specialty" with the students. "I had the opportunity to connect with our youth in a way that I haven't done in quite some time..." said the web design entrepreneuer. "It was very satisfying. As I demonstrated some of the basics of making a web page, there was a genuine interest among the students. There is a definite need for increased technological awareness in the public schools. This was not only an opportunity to connect with the students, but also a chance to strengthen BDPA's relationship with the Chicago Public Schools."