Sampson County Schools is excited to announce the launch of a cutting-edge SparkLab at Union High School, set to open its doors in fall 2025. This innovative learning lab will give students access to explore career pathways in high-tech fields, redefining how technology education is delivered across the district.
SparkLab is designed to prepare students for life after high school by offering flexible, student-driven learning experiences that encourage personal growth and development. The lab will feature open spaces for collaboration, high-tech computing, and individual creativity, ensuring every student can thrive in an environment tailored to their career interests.
One of the unique qualities of a SparkLab is its hybrid teaching and learning capacity, connecting Union High’s lab with other SparkLabs across the state. This inter-district network enables students, lab leaders, and industry partners to interact in real-time, cultivating a statewide learning community.
While the SparkLab will be housed at Union High School, all high school students in Sampson County Schools will have access to its resources. Students, using web-based applications, can explore seven high-demand pathways: artificial intelligence, computer systems engineering, cybersecurity, data analytics, Design UX/UI, game development and design, and software development.
Through the Spark Scholars program, an extension of the SparkLab, students will engage in deeper learning by collaborating with their classmates and professional business and industry experts to tackle real-world challenges. As they learn, students will build a professional portfolio that can be used as part of their resume post-high school graduation and earn credit toward their high school computer science requirements.
In preparation for the SparkLab’s implementation, a group of SCS high school students will attend the summer SparkNC Connection event. This year, SparkNC Exchange 2025 will be held in Wilmington, NC, in partnership with the University of North Carolina Wilmington (UNCW). UNCW professors will lead tech-infused sessions, while business and higher education partners will introduce students to a variety of career opportunities and pathways available across North Carolina’s growing tech sector.
Sampson County Schools is committed to providing students with real-world, transformative opportunities that prepare them for success in an ever-evolving world. The SparkLab at Union High School represents another step forward in our mission to engage, inspire, and equip every student for the future.
About SparkNC:
SparkNC is a North Carolina-based nonprofit organization focused on preparing students for high-tech careers. It provides students with access to a cutting-edge, technology-based curriculum and a learner-centered, competency-based learning environment. SparkNC is funded by the North Carolina General Assembly and works with 17 school districts in North Carolina.
*pictured (l to r) are John Goode, CTE director at Sampson County Schools; Dr. Keith Babuszczak, vice president of programs at SparkNC; Dr. Dan Chabot, principal at Union High School; and Dr. Patricia Hilliard, senior director of district leadership at SparkNC.