Greensboro's African American Community Newspaper since 1967
For Guilford County high school students exploring careers in robotics, artificial intelligence and video game design, the future is no longer an abstract idea. It is something they can see, touch and program.
Fatuma Kayombo, a junior at Southeast Guilford High School, has studied self-driving cars and artificial intelligence through the SparkNC program. Jimmy Nguyen, a senior at the same school, developed new technology skills that helped solidify his plans to pursue engineering at North Carolina A&T State University this fall.
“I feel like I’m preparing my life for a career that I can actually see myself in,” said Kayombo.
Their experiences are part of a broader initiative celebrated February 17, when SparkNC, UNC Greensboro and Guilford County Schools officially launched North Carolina’s first university-based SparkHub — a learning environment designed to connect high school students directly to higher education and in-demand technology careers.
Following the signing ceremony, guests toured the new SparkLab on UNCG’s campus. During the demonstration, a four-legged, dog-like robot moved across the floor, guided by an instructor operating it from a cellphone app. The robot, which featured a round head illuminated by a small green light sensor, stood upright on its hind legs, walked forward and backward, and followed movement around the room, offering a glimpse into the hands-on learning students will experience.
Nicole Baize, SparkLab Leader at Southeast Guilford High School, said moments like that are transformative.
“These students are powerful examples of what happens when students are given access, support, and the chance to do real work that matters,” Baize said. “Every day I watch students walk into a space that doesn’t look or feel like a traditional classroom. There aren’t rows of desks or packets of worksheets. Instead, students are building portfolios, collaborating on projects, talking to industry professionals and discovering what they’re capable of.”
Located on the UNCG campus, the SparkHub, serves as both a physical and intellectual bridge between K-12 education, higher education and the global workforce. Through the partnership, Guilford County Schools students participate in immersive learning experiences developed in collaboration with technology leaders including Apple, IBM, Epic Games, Lenovo, TEKsystems and Cisco. The launch is supported in part by Live Oak Bank.
The curriculum allows students to progress through learning modules at their own pace. By completing six learning experiences and building a professional portfolio, students can earn high school computer science credit through GCS.
“We traded in the seat time requirement for skill competency. Students earn credit by completing practical, real-world projects,” said SparkNC President Lynn Moody. “This partnership is about more than just teaching code. It’s about creating opportunity, confidence and belonging.”
The high-tech career pathways emphasized through UNCG’s applied research in computer arts, digitization, and esports, collectively referred to as ARCADE, include artificial intelligence and machine learning, cybersecurity, software development, UX/UI design, data analytics and game design.
Through the partnership, UNCG is expanding academic pathways, including majors and minors focused on video gaming and esports studies, positioning the university within North Carolina’s growing interdisciplinary gaming and esports sector.
“As a public research university, UNCG is committed to building pathways that expand access and drive economic mobility,” said Chancellor Franklin D. Gilliam Jr. “This partnership demonstrates how higher education, K-12 schools and industry can work together to create meaningful opportunities for students across our state.”
Guilford County Schools Superintendent Whitney Oakley described the collaboration as an extension of the district’s “Guilford Guarantee,” a promise that students can graduate with college credits toward an associate’s degree or an industry-recognized credential.
“With this partnership between the state, the college system, industry leaders and the public school system, we’re taking K-12 education from a static place to a dynamic place,” Oakley said. “Students aren’t just receiving information about what could be — they’re putting it to work in the real world.”
