Spark Program
The Spark Program is a voluntary seven-week educational experience for first and second year students meant to increase exposure to competitive fellowships (funded awards and/or engagement opportunities, such as Fulbright, Goldwater, and the Erickson Discovery Grant). The Spark Program will cover everything from "what is a fellowship?" to interactive workshops that will sharpen students' skills and enhance their undergraduate experience at Penn State and beyond.
Eligibility
- Must be a first-, second-, and third-year student at any of Penn State campuses
- All majors are welcome
- Available to attend least six of the seven workshops. A schedule with dates and times of sessions will be avilable at the beginning of each semester.
Program Overview
Whether your goal is to travel the world, engage in research, or make a difference in your community, Spark -- and fellowships -- can help you make the most of your time at Penn State. Participants of the Spark Program are introduced to such topics as identifying a faculty research mentor, writing a personal statement, and applying for national and international fellowships. The program is designed to give participants the opportunity to develop their critical thinking and technical writing, envision their future, and create a plan to help them along their envisioned path, ultimately helping participants develop into competitive candidates for major fellowship opportunities at the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Tentative Program Schedule |
Week 1: Welcome to the Spark Program and an overview of fellowships. |
Week 2: Student panel with Spark alumni, fellowship recipients, and Undergraduate Research Ambassadors. |
Week 3: Career strengths and interests |
Week 4: Globalizing your undergraduate experience |
Week 5: Research roundtable with research mentors. |
Week 6: Community and civic engagement |
Week 7: Telling your story through application materials. |
Participate in the Spark Program
The application cycle for the Spring 2025 program is now OPENED!
If you are interested in participating in the Spark Program, please apply by February 14, 2025.