August 2026: From Summer Sparks to School Days
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Featured Story
Spark the Future 2026
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Thank you to everyone who joined us for Ignited’s 2026 Spark the Future celebration!
Teachers, industry partners, and community supporters gathered at the O’Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm to celebrate an incredible year of impact. This year, 175 teachers connected with industry, bringing new experiences to 127 schools across 65 districts and an estimated 23,100 students.
Highlights from the evening included:
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Risa Wechsler, PhD, KIPAC Director, shared KIPAC’s commitment to education and how the universe can inspire students to “think big” and dream about what they can achieve in science and beyond.
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Nicole Padia, Carondelet High School teacher, and her former students reflected on how her five Ignited Fellowships have shaped her classroom and how hands-on STEM experiences helped students build confidence, curiosity, and a stronger interest in pursuing STEM pathways.
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Edward Graves, PhD, Stanford professor, reflected on the lasting impact of his teacher, Ignited alumna Julie Dunkle, who connected classroom learning to the real world through industry field trips.
A heartfelt thank you to the Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) at Stanford University for hosting this special evening, and to all of the educators, partners, funders, and supporters who help us spark the future!
| 19 Fellows, Real-World Impact! | | This summer, 19 Ignited Fellows completed immersive projects across a range of industries, applying their expertise to real-world challenges in AI, biotech, semiconductor technology, astrophysics, and more. | | From Classrooms to Industry! | | During Semiconductor Secrets Week, educators went behind the scenes to explore cutting-edge semiconductor technologies, manufacturing, and career pathways. | |  | |
During Bioeconomy Week, educators explored Stanislaus County’s circular bioeconomy across biotech, renewable energy, agriculture, and biomanufacturing.
| | | At Sustainable Solutions Week, educators explored green jobs, watershed stewardship, sustainable infrastructure, and the circular economy while discovering pathways to sustainability careers. | | During Riverside County Water Week with EMWD, educators explored water systems, technologies, and careers through tours of water quality, desalination, reclamation, and utility facilities. | | Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) | | |
Kavli Institute for Particle Astrophysics and Cosmology (KIPAC) at Stanford University brings the resources of modern computational, experimental, observational and theoretical science to our understanding of the universe at large.
Ignited has partnered with Stanford University for over 30 years to immerse local educators in cutting-edge STEM research. This summer, Ignited was delighted to place three East Side Union High School District educators with KIPAC, where they explored sunspots and solar magnetic fields, radiofrequency monitoring systems, and the invisible gas surrounding galaxies. They will bring these experiences back to the classroom, giving 450 students a unique window into how scientists investigate the universe.
KIPAC also hosted Ignited’s end-of-summer Spark the Future event at the O’Donohue Family Stanford Educational Farm - showcasing their commitment to education, workforce development, and making science accessible to people from all communities.
Thank you to KIPAC for strengthening connections between local schools and Stanford’s research community!
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Some Outside Resources and Opportunities!
Kick off the school year with Teachers & Tacos! Explore ways first responders leverage STEM! Participate in fun science activities, take home free classroom supplies, connect with fellow educators, and enjoy tacos! At the Santa Clara Office of Education, September 11th, 4-6pm.
Save the date for the (free) Bay Area Science Festival, a day of discovery featuring 125+ hands-on STEM experiences, demonstrations, lab tours, science talks, and family-friendly activities celebrating the Bay Area’s scientific innovation at UCSF Mission Bay—October 17, 2026, from 11:00 AM–4:00 PM.
Ignited will be co-presenting at the 2026 California Association of Science Educators (CASE) Conference! If you’ll be attending as well, reach out and let us know—we’d love to connect!
Help students build real-world AI-powered solutions for community challenges with Technovation’s free, flexible AI literacy program featuring ready-to-use curriculum, live support, and teacher stipends of $500–$1,500—apply today.
Support the next generation of STEM educators by hosting an EnCorps STEM professional volunteer in your middle or high school math or science classroom while giving students exposure to STEM careers while earning a $350 honorarium. Reach out to julia.defigueiredo@encorps.org for more information.
Showcase your students’ innovative classroom projects at Tech in Action, a regional event celebrating student innovation, STEM, robotics, entrepreneurship, and career pathways with educators, families, and industry partners! Concord, CA—March 27, 2027.
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Connecting classrooms to careers
Ignited empowers educators to transform their students’ career trajectories.
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