UNCG, SparkNC and Guilford County Schools Launch SparkHub for K–12 Tech Training

Guilford County high school students will be able to attend a SparkHub on the UNC Greensboro campus to complete modular, credit-bearing learning in AI, machine learning, cybersecurity, software development, UX/UI design, data analytics, game design and esports, organizers announced after a signing ceremony at UNCG’s Moore Humanities and Research Building on Feb. 17, 2026. Guilford County Schools students will come to the Spark lab on campus during the school day, program leaders said.

The launch event included UNC Greensboro Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr.; SparkNC leadership; Guilford County Schools Superintendent Whitney Oakley; UNC System President Peter Hans; and elected officials including North Carolina Senate President Pro Tem Phil Berger and state Representative Tracy Clark. Gov. and city representation at the event also included Greensboro Mayor Marikay Abuzuaiter, and UNCG faculty and advisers appeared in the signing materials and video excerpts distributed after the ceremony.

“This partnership is about more than just teaching code - it's about creating opportunity, confidence, and belonging. By opening a SparkHub on the UNCG campus, we are breaking down barriers between high school and higher education and showing students where their potential paths can lead,” said SparkNC President Lynn Moody in the accompanying press materials. Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr. said, “As a public research university, UNCG is committed to building pathways that expand access and drive economic mobility. This partnership demonstrates how higher education, K-12 schools and industry can work together to create meaningful opportunities for students across our state.”

UNCG and SparkNC described the SparkHub curriculum as learner-centered and competency-based, emphasizing experiential, project-based modules that evolve with industry needs. John Borchert, director of the Network for the Cultural Study of Videogaming and academic lead for esports at UNCG, said the model is integrated into the school day: “It just swaps out for a normal class period.” Borchert added that students will finish demonstrable work: “What they walk away with is something that they can demonstrate. A real project that they've done that is a portfolio piece that's something for their application process, whether they are going directly into the workforce or coming to UNCG.”

Guilford County Schools tied the SparkHub to its district initiative, the Guilford Guarantee. Superintendent Whitney Oakley said, “The Guilford Guarantee is our promise that all students can graduate from Guilford County Schools with college credits up to an associate's degree. Or an industry-recognized credential or a meaningful workplace experience.” Local K–12 rollout already includes an operating Spark lab at Southeast Guilford High School; WFMY reported that since July 2025 that lab has had dozens of active users completing units, earning credits and working toward portfolios and certifications. Southeast Guilford Spark Lab leader Nicole Bays described the environment in a video excerpt: “There aren't rows of desks or packets of worksheets. Instead, there are students building portfolios, collaborating on projects, talking to industry professionals, and discovering what they're capable of.”

Organizers and institutional materials noted the broader funding and legislative context: SparkNC is described as a 501(c)(3) launched with support from the North Carolina General Assembly, and lawmakers committed funding in the 2023-25 biennium to support SparkNC. State Senator Phil Berger, speaking at the event, framed the effort as building a “homegrown talent pipeline” and making college and career readiness “one seamless path.” PRNewswire and Finance Yahoo characterized the project as “North Carolina’s first SparkHub,” while UNCG and GovTech more narrowly described UNCG as the first university in the state to host a SparkHub.

UNCG, SparkNC and Guilford County Schools say they will refine logistics and enrollment in coming weeks; organizers did not provide final enrollment caps, dollar figures for legislative support, or detailed credit-articulation rules at the launch. UNCG academic leaders and Guilford County officials indicated they expect the SparkHub model to inform similar university partnerships across North Carolina as the program scales.