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SparkBytes | June 2026
- SparkNC
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
Congratulations to all of our SparkNC Graduates Across North Carolina
Congratulations to our outstanding Spark Scholars of the Class of 2026!
As you reach this important milestone, we celebrate your curiosity, determination, and commitment to learning. Throughout your SparkNC journey, you explored emerging technologies, tackled real-world challenges, built meaningful connections, and developed the skills to thrive in an ever-changing world.
We are incredibly proud of all you have accomplished and look forward to seeing the impact you will make in your communities, colleges, careers, and beyond. Wherever your path leads, we know you will continue to innovate, lead, and inspire.
Class of 2026, your journey is just beginning, and we can't wait to see what's next.
Innovation in Action: Eastern Collective
This June, the Eastern Collective of SparkLabs transformed the Vance County Schools Center for Innovation into a hub of creativity, collaboration, and hands-on learning during their Sparks of Innovation event. Students from seven SparkNC partner districts—Edgecombe, Granville, Hyde, Martin, Vance, Wake, and Warren—participated in this event.
Learners explored emerging technologies and future career pathways and networked with higher education institutions to chart their next steps. They experienced immersive virtual reality, digital media production, the SLICE Lab, career speed networking, drones, and the Lu Interactive Wall. Each experience challenged students to think creatively, solve problems, and discover new possibilities.
More than the technology, it was the students' curiosity, teamwork, and willingness to embrace new challenges that made the day memorable. They asked bold questions, encouraged one another, and gained confidence through authentic, hands-on experiences.
A special thank you to our SparkLab Leaders, Vance County Schools, community partners, and every student who helped make the day a success. Together, we're creating opportunities that inspire the next generation of innovators!
Summer Momentum Across SparkNC
As another incredible school year comes to a close, SparkNC is celebrating the impact our scholars, SparkLab Leaders, and partners made across North Carolina. From hands-on learning experiences to real-world problem solving, this year showcased what happens when curiosity meets opportunity.
While the school year has ended, learning is still going strong. In Lexington City Schools, SparkLab Leader Garland Beamer is leading his first Teamship as a coach, partnering with the City of Lexington to tackle a meaningful community challenge: exploring why more young people aren't pursuing careers in public safety. Scholars are working alongside community leaders to research the issue, develop innovative solutions, and gain valuable real-world experience.
This month also marks the conclusion of our inaugural Curiosity Clubs, where SparkLab Leaders from across the state came together in small learning communities to explore topics they were passionate about, share ideas, collaborate with peers, and strengthen their leadership. The clubs created meaningful connections while equipping leaders with new strategies to bring back to their SparkLabs.
Across North Carolina, SparkLabs continue to stay active throughout the summer with camps, workshops, Teamships, community partnerships, and hands-on learning experiences that keep scholars engaged, exploring emerging technologies, and building future-ready skills.
As we look ahead, we're excited to continue fueling curiosity, innovation, and opportunity all summer long. Learning can happen anytime, anywhere with SparkNC!
