Spark 2020
Program Guide
Build lifelong confidence
This is the all-in-one stop for Spark 2020, from important dates to helpful resources.
📆 Looking to apply to Spark 2021? Waitlist here.
Scholars, speakers, and mentors attended Spark 2019 hosted at Google Community Space in San Francisco, Ca.
“Doing well academically wasn’t enough. I was still at risk of falling through the cracks. I took a chance, and the founders at Close the Gap took a chance on me. In June 2019, I attended Close the Gap’s 2019 Spark Program.”
-Alex Peng (Spark 2019), Caught Through the Cracks: How I Closed the Network Gap
Learning Plan 2020
Structured STEM Mentorship
Every scholar is paired with a mentor (the first of many!) at the beginning of the program. Mentors and scholars will meet bi-weekly from June to September. Mentors will guide their scholars in career and growth project.
Custom Panels & Workshops
We’ve designed a series of four workshops to help you acquire both the intangibles and crucial life skills. Flavors of this summer: Design Thinking, STEM Panel, Elevator Pitch, Personal Branding, and College Prep.
Self-Directed Growth Project
This year’s self-directed project will take on the theme of growth and resilience due to COVID-19. Scholars will pick an area they’d like to grow in, may that be personal or professional, then work toward that goal.
$1,000 Growth Scholarship
Storytelling matters and practice makes perfect. In September, scholars will present their Growth Project to a panel of Silicon Valley leaders. The most growth-minded scholar will receive the $1,000 Growth Scholarship.
Close the network gap
We started Spark to bridge the “12x advantage” network gap for low-income students who often grow up without role models or mentors in their life. Through Spark, scholars are introduced to essential life skills like public speaking, networking, forging relationships, project management, and college preparation.
Program Guide 2020
June 7
Orientation Day
1:00-5:00 PM PST, Sunday
Zoom Webinar
June 8
First Mentorship Session
7:00-8:00 PM PST, Monday
Google Hangout
June 14
Design Thinking
2:00-3:00 PM PST, Sunday
Zoom Webinar
July 12
STEM Panel
2:30-3:30 PM PST, Sunday
Zoom Webinar
August 2
Personal Branding
2:30-3:30 PM PST, Sunday
Zoom Webinar
August 30
College Preparation
2:30-3:30 PM PST, Sunday
Zoom Webinar
September 13
Elevator Pitch
2:30-3:30 PM PST, Sunday
Zoom Webinar
September 21
Last Mentorship Session
7:00-8:00 PM PST, Monday
Google Hangout
September 27
Pitch Day
10:00AM-5:00PM PST, Sunday
Google Community Space
for scholars
for mentors
#CloseTheGap
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