The High School Student Services Department of BDPA Chicago Chapter is preparing for our annual high school computer competition program.  This is an intensive program designed to identify, select and foster the skills of 6th through 12th grade students that have an aptitude for computer programming.  Our goal is to teach students how to use software solutions to solve business problems.  Problem solving is emphasized throughout the training.  Although the program has been in existence for more than 15 years, many schools are not familiar with it.  We are writing to inform you about our program to encourage you to get the word out to your students.

Information enclosed in this packet includes:

  • An overview of the High School Computer Competition program
  • How to Register
  • A brief introduction and history of BDPA
  • Announcement Flyer for display

Registration for the program is open to all metropolitan Chicago students.  Students may register at our web site. Training for the program begins December 4th and continues through July 30th .  Selected students will meet each Saturday at Chicago Tech Academy; 1301 W. 14th; Chicago, IL 60608 from 9:00 am through 3:00 pm.

There are no fees to participate on the Competition Team.  However, students are expected to attend class with a minimum 2 gigabyte flash drive, notebooks, pens, and pencils.

Students participating in the program will learn:

  • HTML
  • Cascading Style Sheets
  • JavaScript
  • Web Page Design
  • Flow Charting
  • PHP
  • Database design
  • Wampserver administration
  • Analysis of business problems and solution design

We are hoping your school will be represented on our team.  In order to participate in the program, students must meet the following qualifications:

  • A metropolitan Chicago area student in either of the 6th through 12th grades.
  • Able to meet at Chicago Tech Academy; 1301 W. 14th; Chicago, IL 60608 every Saturday from 9:00 am through 3:00 pm starting December 3rd through July 28th.
  • Able to attend the Midwest Regional Competition in Cincinnati, Ohio in late May or early June.
  • Able to attend our National Conference & Competition in Baltimore, Maryland starting August 1st.
  • Access to a computer which must have a Pentium III processor or better and run Windows XP or better.
  • Microsoft Word and Excel or compatible software running on their computer.
  • A personal email account.
  • Access to the internet
  • Consent of their parent or guardian.
  • Register for the program at: http://www.computer-competion.org

Although Students new to the program will take a programming aptitude test, we accept all students that register.  In addition to learning a great deal of technology, the students will be coached on how to conduct themselves in a professional manner.  They will learn how to analyze a problem, design and implement a solution.  They will learn how to lead and participate as effective members of a team.  They will have the opportunity to meet Chief Information Officers and Vice Presidents from area fortune 1000 corporations. 

Each training session is built upon the previous session.  They are not modular, meaning that missing any session will severely diminish the student’s effectiveness in future sessions.  Students are tested at the end of every session.  Students lose 10% of their points every week that passes when they take make up tests.  At the end of each training module, students that have not been completing assignments or scoring poorly on the exams will no longer be eligible to continue in the program.  At the end of the Introduction to JSTL training, up to 10 students will receive a $500.00 college scholarship award from BDPA Chicago. 

Next June we will select 5 students that will attend the national conference.  These students will receive the following:

  • An additional $1.500.00 added to their college scholarship award for a total of $2,000.00.
  • A trip to our National Conference with major expenses paid by  BDPA Chicago.
  • If they place in the top 5 at the national competition, they will win a great prize for representing our chapter.

We believe this is an outstanding program! Our instructors are Information Technology professionals from top notch local area companies such as AT&T, Allstate Insurance, ABN Amro, HSBC, and Hewitt Associates.  The Chicago chapter has a history of performing well at the national competition where students can earn even more scholarship money if they win, place, or show.

If you have any questions aboutthe High School Computer Competition Team program, please feel free to contact Eric Dortch at 847-864-5905 for more information.

Sincerely,

 

Eric Dortch                                                           Pamela Sexton

Director of High School Student Services               President