Spark Lincoln Learning, the Foundation’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) based summer camp, is proud to make camp accessible to all. With the help of grants and various donors, Spark was able to award $123,530 in scholarships to over 80 students for this upcoming summer session.
“I’m a firm believer that STEAM is for everyone, and a child’s household income shouldn’t affect that,” said Lindsay Rogers, Director of Programs and Spark. “This is the only time some of these students get these opportunities, and they all deserve them.”
Many of our students wouldn’t be able to attend camp if it weren’t for the scholarships but don’t take it from us, take it from a Spark scholarship parent,
“Receiving this email about the scholarship truly brought tears to my eyes. This program was incredibly valuable for him last summer. Your staff was amazing in helping him navigate challenges, and the schedule is perfect for working single moms like me. Not only does he learn so much, but he also has a blast and builds wonderful new friendships. Plus, the fact that you provide lunch is such a great bonus—what a fantastic program!”
Responses like these continue to motivate Rogers to provide scholarships, as she believes students can’t be what they can’t see, and Spark allows them to see.
Any student who has completed kindergarten through fifth grade can attend Spark, regardless of their elementary school. Spark offers nine weeks of programming, and students who qualify for scholarships can receive funding for up to seven weeks. A family’s household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level to qualify. If eligible, the scholarship covers the full cost of tuition for those seven weeks or however many weeks the parent chooses to sign up for. For example, one family with three children applied for seven weeks of camp and received $5,656 - covering the total cost of tuition for all three students for those weeks!
Funds are disbursed to families before enrollment officially opens on February 10th. A second round of scholarship applications is being accepted until mid-February. The program plans to award an additional $25,000, totaling $150,000. The process is conducted in two rounds in case all funds are not awarded in round one. You can apply at SparkLincolnLearning.com.
Thank you to our donors who made this possible: Acklie Charitable Foundation, Google, Dr. Ken Nickerson, Julie Ennerson, Linda Lichtenberg, and Stu Elliot.
