Southern Minnesota BDPA Chapter: A Legacy of Excellence

The BDPA Southern Minnesota Chapter was officially chartered in May 1999 in Rochester, MN, with ten dedicated members. The chapter quickly made its mark, with its first youth computer team competing in 2000 and securing ninth place. Since 2003, the Southern Minnesota High School Computer Competition (HSCC) team has consistently ranked among the top four nationally. The Rochester team set a historic national record with the most consecutive first-place wins in the competition’s history. Students involved in the local chapter program earn academic credit for their participation, reinforcing the value of their efforts.

The chapter’s commitment to excellence has been recognized with several prestigious awards, including National Developing Chapter of the Year, the Chapter Management Award, the Chapter Membership Award, and 1st and 2nd Runner-up for National Chapter of the Year.

The vision for a BDPA Chapter in Southern Minnesota was sparked by Betty Hutchins upon her arrival in Rochester in January 1998. With her experience in founding a BDPA Chapter in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and her work with Mayo Clinic IT, Betty was passionate about creating opportunities for high school students of color to explore careers in information technology. Collaborating with local community leaders, she pursued the establishment of the chapter and worked alongside Mildred Bates-Jackson to secure 501(c)(3) nonprofit status for the organization in Minnesota.

BDPA students not only develop valuable technical skills but also compete for scholarships at the national and local levels, supporting their ongoing education and career aspirations. Betty’s vision was reinforced by community advocate Jackie Johnson, who recognized a strong need for youth programming in Rochester. Other IT professionals and local leaders rallied behind the initiative, contributing to the development of an organizational plan and formally signing the founding charter in 1999.

BDPA is the premier organization focused on nurturing and developing diverse working professionals and future IT leaders in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and math (STEM) and all digital technology fields.

To be the leading and most recognized organization in enabling technology leadership preparedness and inclusion for diverse talent.

“Advancing Careers from The Classroom To Boardroom.”