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

09/04/2026

Exciting news! 📰✨

A brand-new article coauthored by our Educational Development Manager, Kristen Outler, and Dr. Shalaunda Reeves from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, was just published in SPIE’s Photonics Focus!

The piece, titled "Helping students see a future in photonics," tackles one of the biggest challenges in STEM today: building workforce awareness early. Middle school is a critical entry point where students form ideas about what STEM means to them. Rather than starting with complex technical jargon, early outreach needs to start with relevance, real-world meaning, and accessible tools like Chip Kids, SparkEd, and SparkAlpha Explore.

By meeting students where they are, we can help them connect the technology in their everyday lives to exciting career pathways. After all, our job isn't to decide a student's future, but to ensure photonics is a field they can actually imagine themselves in!

Read the full article to learn how industry partners, educators, and community programs can work together to meet students where they are and spark curiosity upstream!

👉 Read here: https://spie.org/news/photonics-focus/septemberoctober-2026/helping-see-a-future-in-photonics

👉For more info on resources mentioned:
🔹Chip Kids: https://chipkids.org/
🔹SparkEd: https://www.sparkphotonics.org/sparked
🔹SparkAlpha Explore: https://www.sparkphotonics.org/sparkalpha

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

09/02/2026

Calling all Northeast K–14 educators!

Due to overwhelming interest in our last cohort, we’re excited to announce that we’re opening another session of SparkEd: Microelectronics Ready (NEMC Edition)!

Want to bring real-world tech into your classroom this fall and get paid for it?

Whether you missed the first round or want to invite your peers, now is your chance to join this flexible virtual professional learning program focused on semiconductors, microelectronics, and advanced manufacturing.

Which Northeast state will take the lead this time? Drop your state in the comments and tag a colleague to show out for your school district! 📍

Program Highlights:
🍎 $300 Stipend upon completion
🍎 Dates: Oct 28, 2026 to Nov 20, 2026 (work at your own pace)
🍎 Time: 6–7 hours asynchronous + one 90-min live session
🍎 Live Session: Wed, Oct 28 (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET)
🍎 Perks: Ready-to-use lessons, coding resources, and STEM career spotlights

Spots are limited once again. Grab yours here: 👉 https://wkf.ms/42p0zJe

Share this with a teacher who needs to see it!

09/01/2026

Kickoff Success: NEMC Microelectronics Ready Cohort 1! 🚀

We are thrilled to celebrate the successful kickoff of our very first cohort of Microelectronics Ready: NEMC Edition, supported by the Northeast Microelectronics Coalition (NEMC)! The event brought together over forty educators from across the Northeast to bring interactive microelectronics pathways into K-12 classrooms.

🔷Keynote Address: Adam Couturier (Director of STEM Ecosystems & Partnerships, Massachusetts Technology Collaborative) kicked off the event by highlighting the power of career-connected learning and showing how industry links help students see themselves in high-tech fields.

⚙️Industry & Academia Panel: 📚 Experts demystified complex technical topics and discussed the mindsets needed for fields like semiconductors, AI, and wireless tech. Special thanks to our featured panelists:
🔸Xian Du, PhD – University of Massachusetts Amherst
🔸Cameron Hill – Marki Microwave
🔸Preetha Kingsview – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
🔸Rabeeh Majidi, PhD – OrthoKinetic Track Inc.

🧑‍🏫Educator Reflections: Attendees resonated deeply with the core themes of practical engagement and accessibility, emphasizing:
💬 "Building student confidence starts with hands-on, authentic learning experiences."
💬 "Integrating real-world industry connections shows students that STEM pathways are open to everyone."

Thank you to all the educators and partners who made this launch a resounding success!

08/19/2026

Heading to SPIE Optics + Photonics next week? Make sure to add this to your schedule! 💡⚡

Our Educational Development Manager, Kristen Outler, will be presenting on how the Spark Photonics Foundation supports educators in bringing photonics, semiconductors, and advanced manufacturing into K–12 and postsecondary classrooms.

Kristen will share insights from our community of practice, highlighting how peer collaboration, industry context, and sustained professional learning help teachers build confidence and inspire the next generation of innovators.

Session Details:
Date & Time: Monday, Aug 24 | 10:20 AM – 10:50 AM
Location: Conv. Ctr. Room 14B

Attending the conference? Stop by Room 14B to learn more about our educator ecosystem, or reach out to Kristen directly on the SPIE Conference & Exhibition App to connect! 🔷

SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics

08/14/2026

Exciting news from our team! 🚀🔷

We are thrilled to celebrate a brand-new publication in Education Sciences coauthored by our very own Vanessa Mahoney alongside Shalaunda M. Reeves, Francheska D. Starks, Missy D. Cosby, Brittany Price, and Joanna Millunchick!

This paper takes a close look at how K–12 teachers adapt and bring real-world, industry-aligned STEM materials into their classrooms, drawing on research from our SparkEd program and the PBS series Chip Kids.

Huge congratulations to Vanessa, along with Kristen Outler, who developed the educational activity highlighted by the authors in the paper, and the entire research team for advancing what we know about supporting STEM educators! 👏✨

Check out the full open-access article here:
👉 https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.mdpi.com_2227-2D7102_16_8_1178&d=DwIDaQ&c=euGZstcaTDllvimEN8b7jXrwqOf-v5A_CdpgnVfiiMM&r=mEW8WYIeZS3S4Hv2Pw4UTL7u8yPwjxQvO9-0GvZl15A&m=tJcb4e-o6qMuFiCC8z1Tr0ohX7duec86UvA_fWUbBFZZg7Rz3DuiZRaRuWEOa_oz&s=wh26DnQ-MAA2nXTJHdstqhkGZPowzbXfLXvgqoh00dU&e=

08/10/2026

🚀 Calling all NEMC Members & Northeast STEM Advocates! 🚀

We are gearing up for our upcoming professional learning program, SparkEd: Microelectronics Ready (NEMC Edition), and we need your expertise to make our launch event a success!

We are currently looking for NEMC members to join a live round-table discussion to share real-world microelectronics and STEM insights with K–14 educators across the Northeast! Not sure if your company is a member? Check out the membership list here: 👥 https://nemicroelectronics.org/our-members

Virtual Live Session Details:
📅 Date: Wednesday, August 26, 2026
⏰ Time: 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET

How You Can Help:
🎤 Join the Panel: Interested in participating in the round table? Let us know by filling out our interest form:
🏛️ Share Leads & Network: Connect us with universities, industry partners, or STEM organizations in the Northeast who would be a great fit!
📢 Amplify: Share this post and link with colleagues or members of your network who might be interested: https://qrco.de/NEMCLIVE
Please submit your interest or pass along leads by Wednesday, August 19!

Let’s inspire the next generation of the microelectronics workforce together! 💡✨

08/03/2026

Calling all Northeast K–14 educators! 🍎⚡

Want to bring real-world tech into your classroom this fall and get paid for it?

We are opening registration for SparkEd: Microelectronics Ready (NEMC Edition), a flexible virtual professional learning program focused on semiconductors, microelectronics, and advanced manufacturing.

Which Northeast state will have the most representation in this cohort? Drop your state in the comments and tag a colleague to help represent your school district! 📍

Program Highlights:
🍎 $300 Stipend upon completion
🍎 Dates: Aug 26, 2026 to Sept 9, 2026 (work at your own pace)
🍎 Time: 6–7 hours asynchronous + one 90-min live session
🍎 Live Session: Wed, Aug 26 (3:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET)
🍎 Perks: Ready-to-use lessons, coding resources, and STEM career spotlights

Spots are limited. Grab yours here: 👉 https://wkf.ms/42p0zJe

Share this with a teacher who needs to see it! 🔷

07/03/2026

🎆 Celebrating Innovation & Opportunity ✨

Happy Fourth of July weekend from the Spark Photonics Foundation!

As we observe Independence Day today, we are reflecting on the core values that drive our mission forward year-round: curiosity, ingenuity, and community. The history of our nation is deeply rooted in the spirit of exploration and the drive to build a brighter future from the ground up.

At SPF, we honor that legacy by investing in the next generation. We believe that true opportunity starts with education—giving every student the tools and confidence to think critically, create freely, and lead the technology of tomorrow.

Wishing everyone a safe, relaxing, and inspiring holiday weekend! 🚀

06/30/2026

Oregon is SparkAlpha State #13! 🌲

We are thrilled to announce that SparkAlpha Explore has officially arrived in the Pacific Northwest! Intel Corporation has provided funding for this project, allowing us to bring our project-based curriculum directly into Oregon's legendary "Silicon Forest."

As a global crown jewel of tech innovation, Oregon drives massive advancements in semiconductor manufacturing, research, and hardware engineering. By launching here, we’re connecting this incredible local industry powerhouse directly to the classrooms of today.

Through this expansion, we are introducing students to the world of integrated photonics and semiconductors through real-world learning—opening doors to the high-tech careers of tomorrow. 🔦⚡

We are incredibly grateful for Intel's support and our shared commitment to empowering the next generation of Pacific Northwest innovators! 🤝

Here’s to Oregon’s future technology leaders—the journey starts now! 🚀

06/05/2026

The future of the Treasure State is bright! We are still celebrating the incredible energy from the 2026 Prospects Grand Champion Pitch Competition at Montana State University. Out of 200+ student submissions, 10 high school finalists pitched live for a share of $18,000 in prizes.

A huge thank you to the Montana Chamber Foundation for creating and providing these vital opportunities for Montana’s youth to develop real-world business acumen, showcase their innovation, and connect with industry leaders who can help launch their futures!

A massive shoutout to Hart Miller from The Billings Career Center for winning 2nd Place ($2,500) in the New Business Division with Luminex Aquatics!

As a competitive swimmer, Hart used integrated photonic pressure sensors to engineer a solution to "soft touching" on swim timing pads. With the guidance of his teacher, Scott Hanson, and SparkAlpha Explore, he successfully shifted his focus from pure engineering to a solid business model.

💬 "The time spent defining the problem... opened my perspective into financials and stuff like that," Hart said. "It has very heavily opened my future with the photonics industry, especially as Montana is a growing region for photonics, especially in Bozeman."

James Easton, Director of Workforce Strategies, added:
💬“The Montana Chamber Foundation continues to be inspired by the incredible talent and drive of Montana’s youth. They are ready to lead, shape the future of our state, and ensure it remains strong for years to come. We’re always excited to see how their ideas will influence the next steps we all take together.”

Congratulations to Hart, Scott Hanson, and all of the 2026 competitors. Through impactful programs like The Prospects, Montana's youth aren't waiting for the future—they're building it!

Billings Public Schools

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Waltham, MA

Website

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

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