Sometimes all it takes is a spark...the right circumstance, maybe a little bit of luck... and then our passion, our drive... catches fire. But maybe, our fire needs just a little bit of help. That’s what Rise Up Academics is all about...adding just a little bit of fuel to the passion you already have inside of you to succeed.

As a scholar at the Ignite Institute of Northern Kentucky, you have an excellent
opportunity to shape your future. For some though, the lack of adequate technology is a significant obstacle. Perhaps you have had to borrow a laptop or desktop from the school, or maybe a friend or family member. Maybe you have a laptop, but it is well below the school’s recommended specifications.

For those students in need of a technology ‘spark’, Rise Up Academics is pleased to announce a scholarship opportunity to be awarded to one returning Ignite

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Scholar to aid in their sophomore year (10th grade). The selected scholar will receive their choice of one of the following:

• A current model 14-inch Apple MacBook Pro, with 24 gb unified memory, and 512 gb

  SSD storage (not to exceed total award value limit*)

• OR A current model 12.9-inch iPad Pro Wi-Fi 512gb, with Magic Keyboard and Apple

  Pencil (not to exceed total award value limit*)

• OR Another model laptop OR tablet that meets the Ignite Institute’s technology

  requirements for the scholar’s selected college AND does not exceed the total award value limit.*

 

​To qualify, scholars need to meet the following criteria:

• Device Need: scholars should have borrowed their school laptop from the school, or another resource, such as a friend or family member.

• Academic performance: the GPA of scholars will be a factor, as the recipient should have succeeded in their studies despite not having the adequate technology.

• Year-long Project performance: Scholars should have received high marks in the YLP, despite not having adequate technology.

• Behavioral performance: Scholars should have NO disciplinary issues, to include write-ups, detention, suspension, etc, AND fewer than the maximum number of unexcused absences based on Ignite Institute’s attendance policy.

• Returning Sophomore: Scholar should be a returning scholar that attended Ignite Institute as a 9th grade student during the 2025-2026 academic year.

• All information above will be verified by Ignite Institute

• Applications for the 2025-2026 calendar year will be accepted from April 15, 2025 through May 25, 2025. There will be no exceptions to this timeline, as we intend to select and reward the selected scholar before the first day of school, fall of 2025.

 

How to apply:

Scholars that feel that they have met the acceptance criteria may apply via this electronic form OR by submitting a paper essay addressing each of the aforementioned elements to Mrs. Brown of Ignite Institue within the accepted dates above.

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The Selection Process:

Rise Up Academics will host a review board to select a scholar to be awarded the technology scholarship outlined above. The board will consist of two active teachers from the Ignite Institute, two parents of active Ignite Institute scholars, and two junior or senior scholars enrolled at Ignite Institute. Each of the aforementioned board members will be selected by Ignite Institue Administration, and cannot be related to another board member and/or have a family member that are applying for the scholarship. The final two members of the board will be Luke and Carrie UpChurch, Co-Founders of Rise Up Academics Kentucky.

The selected scholar will be contacted approximately mid-July 2025, at which point they will have the opportunity to select their awarded technology. This new device will then be ordered and delivered in person at Ignite Institue before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.

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Interested in applying to be part of the selection board? Apply here!