Spark Photonics Foundation

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Spark Photonics Foundation

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Engaging students with high-quality STEM education & outreach through real-world applications in photonics, semiconductors, & advanced manufacturing, with the aim of empowering them to pursue fulfilling careers & become solvers of tomorrow’s challenges

06/04/2026

🌟 Welcome Teddy Morris to the Spark Photonics Foundation! 🌟

We’re excited to have Teddy on board this summer as an Educational Development & Outreach Intern! Hailing from Massachusetts, Teddy joins us as a physics major in Dartmouth’s Class of 2029.

Teddy brings a fantastic background to the team, including hands-on experience as a teaching assistant. While he is used to supporting students directly in the classroom, he is eager to step onto the other side of the educational process this summer to help design and develop the very curriculum that will inspire the next generation.

With a deep passion for community impact, Teddy is most looking forward to the opportunity to directly advance STEM education in the communities around him. His drive and fresh perspective will be an incredible asset to our outreach efforts!

We’re thrilled to have you on the team, Teddy! Welcome! 🚀

06/02/2026

🌟 Welcome Back, Benny Salomon, to the Spark Photonics Foundation! 🌟

We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Benny back to the team for his second consecutive summer as an Educational Development & Outreach Intern!

A physics major in The University of Chicago of Chicago’s Class of 2027, Benny is returning with a year of experience under his belt and a continued passion for making STEM accessible. After helping us lay the groundwork last year, Benny is eager to dive back in and collaborate with fellow students on new projects. He is especially excited to help drive the evolution of SparkAlpha Explore and expand our reach by making our educational assignments Spanish-friendly—leveraging his incredible bilingual communication skills to break down barriers in STEM.

We're so happy to have your energy, familiar face, and expertise back on the team, Benny! Welcome back! 🚀

05/27/2026

🗽 Brooklyn-bound for the NORDTECH Hub Members Meeting! ✨

The Spark Photonics Foundation is thrilled to head to NYU Tandon School of Engineering for this year's NORDTECH Hub Members Meeting, where leaders across government, industry, and academia gather to shape the future of Northeast microelectronics.

Kevin McComber, our Executive Director, is looking forward to discussing the regional Education and Workforce Development (EWD) initiatives we're supporting, as well as sharing updates from Spark Photonics Design!

Building tomorrow's technology requires investing in tomorrow's workforce. We look forward to collaborating with partners to strengthen regional talent pipelines and create accessible pathways into the microelectronics ecosystem.

Heading to NORDTECH? Catch up with Kevin during the networking sessions or facility tours to discuss building regional talent pipelines or accelerating your design workflows! 🚀

05/22/2026

🚀 Countdown to Kickoff: May 27!

We are officially gearing up to launch our latest SparkEd: Skills-to-Careers in Semiconductor Manufacturing cohort on May 27! We can't wait to welcome over 100 educators into this immersive experience.

While you’ve already met our keynote speaker, we are excited to introduce the powerhouse panel of experts joining us to discuss the future of the industry, workforce innovation, and technical career pathways.

Our panelists bring a coast-to-coast perspective from the heart of the semiconductor and quantum ecosystems:
🌵 Shubhada Sahasrabudhe (Arizona): Co-Founder of QuRIuS Consultancy that focuses on Semiconductor Quality & Reliability and expert in organizational resilience.
🌲 Vicki Hopper (Oregon): Production Department Manager at Intel Corporation and champion for technician training.
⚛️ Megan Ivory, PhD (New Mexico): Senior Member of the Technical Staff at Sandia National Laboratories and leader in quantum education.
🌰 Courtney Tenhover (Ohio): Manager of Training Projects at Lorain County Community College and Industry 4.0 strategist.

Together, they bridge the gap between cutting-edge R&D and the "earn-and-learn" pipelines that are essential for the next generation of manufacturing.

Educators, get ready—we’ll see you on May 27! 🎓✨

05/20/2026

🌟 Back by Popular Demand: Shari Liss to Keynote SparkEd 2026!

We are beyond thrilled to announce that Shari Liss, VP of Global Workforce Development at SEMI, will be returning to set the tone as our keynote speaker for the May 27th kickoff!

Last year, Shari’s "real talk" on workforce equity was the highest-rated session of our professional development series. Our educators still rave about her ability to make the "invisible" aspects of the global supply chain visible, providing clarity on how the industry truly operates and where our students fit into its future.

As a former teacher herself, Shari brings a perspective that bridges the gap between high-level industrial strategy and the everyday impact educators have on the future workforce. We are honored to have her insights inspire our cohort of over 100 teachers once again.

Shari, we can’t wait to have your voice help us launch another incredible year of SparkEd.

We can't wait to welcome our 100+ educators to the kickoff on May 27th! 🚀

05/06/2026

New Jersey is SparkAlpha State #12!

We are thrilled to announce that SparkAlpha Explore has officially arrived in the Garden State!

New Jersey has a legendary history of innovation—from the invention of the transistor at Bell Labs to its current status as a thriving hub for semiconductors and telecommunications. By bringing our project-based curriculum to New Jersey, we’re connecting that rich heritage of invention to the classrooms of today.

🚀 Spotlight on Camden: We are especially honored to partner with Pastor Keith Davis and the Camden Dream Center Technology Training School. This summer, we are teaming up to introduce K-8 students to the world of integrated photonics and semiconductors through real-world learning.

A huge thank you to Christine Galib and the team at APT for the introduction and for your leadership in connecting innovation to impact. We are so grateful for your support in making this partnership possible! 🤝

By exposing students to these emerging technologies early on, we’re opening doors to the high-tech careers of tomorrow. 🔦⚡

Here’s to New Jersey’s future leaders—the journey starts now! 🔷

04/30/2026

Innovation in Action! 🚀

We are thrilled to celebrate the incredible progress of a talented student in Mr. Scott Hanson’s Jobs for Montana’s Graduates course! After working on the SparkAlpha project and showcasing his brilliant business idea at "The Hive" in Billings, this young innovator has officially advanced to the FINAL FIVE of the state-wide Prospects pitch competition! 🏆

His project—a revolutionary swim pad utilizing photonics technology—seeks to solve a universal challenge for swimmers. The momentum is building as he prepares to head to MSU Jake Jabs College of Business & Entrepreneurship on May 18th to pitch for the top prize.

We love seeing students bridge the gap between technical science and entrepreneurial spirit. We are so proud of the dedication shown throughout this process and will be cheering him on!

Stay tuned for updates from the final pitch in Bozeman! 💡✨

Billings Public Schools

04/29/2026

We had an incredible day at GC-360 in Bozeman, Montana! Hosted by Gallatin College, this event is all about helping middle and high school students explore in-demand careers through hands-on experience.

Shannon Hamp from Spark Photonics Design represented the Spark Photonics Foundation team and a few moments really stood out:
🔹 It was a proud moment when students from Belgrade Middle School recognized our logo immediately! It was incredible to see that connection firsthand, especially knowing that nearly 300 Belgrade students have successfully completed our SparkAlpha Explore program this school year.
🔹 Our light modulator demo was a huge hit—especially when we used Chappell Roan’s Pink Pony Club to demonstrate how light can carry sound. 🎵
🔹 We met so many students who already knew their way around a silicon wafer or fiber optics thanks to our previous programming and the thriving photonics industry in the Gallatin Valley.

Events like GC-360 are at the heart of our mission. By exposing students to emerging technologies and building awareness of local opportunities, we help them realize that a future in high-tech innovation is well within their reach.

Huge thanks to Gallatin College for putting together such a high-energy day for the community!

04/28/2026

💡 From "Zero Awareness" to High-Stakes Business Pitches

What happens when you give high school students a challenge to solve a real-world problem using advanced technology? They create Aura—a photonics-based solution for remote phone charging—and present their business plans with impressive clarity and professional poise.

We are thrilled to be featured in The Waltham Times, highlighting how our SparkAlpha program is transforming classrooms at Waltham High School and across the country.

The Highlights:
🍎Waltham High teacher, Mike Wilder, shared how the program "clicked" when he saw his students—many of whom had never heard of photonics—standing before judges to defend their business plans.
📟As our Executive Director Kevin McComber notes, this isn't just a technology program; it’s an awareness and communications program. It’s about giving students the professional competence and "semiconductor literacy" to enter the workforce.
🚀 From resume building to manufacturing budgets, students are learning that semiconductors aren't just "chips"—they are the foundation of modern entrepreneurship.

As Mike Wilder puts it: “When they put it all together in the end and stand up and do it, that’s when I realized there was engagement.” We couldn't agree more. We provide the structure, but the real magic happens when students find their voice and take the lead.

Read the full story here: 👉 https://walthamtimes.org/2026/04/26/high-school-students-pitch-engineering-startups-through-innovative-spark-program/

04/21/2026

NEMC Members & Educators: Let’s Spark the future! ⚡

We’re launching SparkEd: Microelectronics Ready—a new PD initiative to upskill teachers in Microelectronics & Career-Connected Learning across the Northeast! 🚀

We need NEMC Members to help us make this impactful. We are building a library of local industry and academic pathways to show students the opportunities right in their own backyards.

How to get involved: Fill out the relevant profile form below! A Spark Photonics Foundation member will follow up to confirm details before they are shared with educators.
🎓 Academic Institutions: https://lnkd.in/ekhCmk_C
🏢 Industry Partners: https://lnkd.in/eXHQSg5b

Let’s make sure the Northeast’s talent is ‘Microelectronics Ready’!

Address

Waltham, MA

Website

http://www.sparkphotonics.org/, https://spark-photonics-foundation.circle.so/, https://linktr.ee/sparkphotonicsfoundatio

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