Tech Solutions
Spring 2024
Participating in the workplace
Getting in
This semester, we focused on what it takes to move into the workplace and perform there. We kicked off the work with a rewarding set of conversations with over 20 professionals from Bayer Crop Science, who performed mock interviews with our team. They asked great questions, gave feedback on performance, and then shared their own interviewing experiences directly with associates.
Associates leveraged those lessons in interviews with our internship sponsors, securing experiences in video production, data analysis, cybersecurity, social media and more.
Doing the work
This year we had 16 micro-internship and advanced projects running for 11 weeks this semester. In that time, associates encountered a number of experiences that will shape their futures.
Spark! associates ...
Contributed to internal software development projects coached by software developers from Sketch Development Services
Analyzed and protected district resources while supervised by Parkway's cybersecurity and networking team
Created direct marketing campaigns delivered through both Facebook and email for Podcastify.me
Published web pages and tutorial videos for a local edtech startup EDURain
Developed Sport Marketing materials for the Parkway Communications department
Shadowed cybersecurity professionals and met area CISOs with help from the Security Advisors Alliance and Netskope
Created business process documentation and video marketing materials for a local company, OnDemand Painters
Designed an original video telling the story of the rise of AI in popular culture while shadowing all segments of the video production process at Solstice Media.
Maintained and provisioned Chromebooks for the Parkway Technology Department
Designed and programmed a control board interface in partnership with AV professionals from CTi
Developed social media ideas and content for the marketing department of T-REX
Researched datasets within K12 education and created data dashboards with Tableau in partnership with the data and assessment team in Parkway
Designed an AI prototype that would improve school counselor response time with professionals from World Wide Technology
Developed Sport Marketing materials for the Parkway Communications department
Created websites and social media for local entrepreneurs Jovial Denim, Chef Pure, and iAutoAgent
Completed personal projects and received accolades
Tech Solutions associates accomplished much this semester, winning awards, securing summer internships, completing industry certifications, and more. This year ...
All associates presented their PPP progress four times over the course of the year to a professional, receiving feedback and direction. Associates presented their work at a cumulative poster session hosted by Bayer Crop Science St. Louis in May.
2 associates were again accepted into high school internships at the NGA location here in St. Louis. This is the second straight year the NGA has recognized Spark! associates as among the small group of high school students admitted to this opportunity.
6 made up a team that placed 4th out of 20 area schools in World Wide Technology's Student STEM Forum. This is the second time a Spark! team has made it to the top 5.
1 was named a National Cyber Foundation scholar for Missouri and another a finalist for the same honor
3 launched technology-connected businesses in social media, animation, and fitness as their personal passion projects
1 placed in the top 8% of over 7000 college and high school students participating in the National Cyber League competition
4 completed Google’s Cybersecurity Professional Certificate
1 completed more than 75% of Google’s Project Management Professional Certificate
2 completed more than 50% of Google’s Data Analytics Professional Certificate
And that list doesn’t include the ones who
built video games,
created animated avatars for folks in their Twitch community,
gained skills in AWS Cloud architecture, MATLab, and Linux,
learned multiple coding languages, and more.
Grateful for the journey
Over 100 professionals representing 54 separate organizations gave more than 850 hours of their time to share, advise, coach, and inspire Parkway Spark! Tech Solutions students this year. To say that we are grateful would be an understatement. These professionals made a significant impact on the direction of individuals and future families by generously giving of their time.
A few notable quotes from parents and students this year:
"You WAY undersell the impact of this course. I had no idea I would grow so much over one year."
"The program helped expose my son to larger world of technology and business, as opposed to through the lens of what he learns at home or online. "
"I wasn't sure what I wanted to do before Spark! but Spark! has helped my eliminate some options and make my future clearer."
"It helped my son solidify his college major. He has been interested in cybersecurity for years but took a high school class he really didn't like. I encouraged him to not assume the class would be like real life. When he got to Spark!, he was able to experience a more authentic look at the career and has determined that cybersecurity is what he wants to do after college."
"I wanted to do something with technology and I found my passion with my personal passion project. "
"Spark! is a too-hidden gem in the Parkway curriculum. Honestly, I don't know why everyone doesn't apply!"
Thank you to our associates, our parents, and our sponsors. It has been an amazing 2023-24!
