Spark Wins National Growth Prize to Advance Student Success Platform

August 31, 2026

A research team from UC Irvine School of Education and Office of Information Technology recently earned national recognition after Spark, an innovative student success platform, received a $150,000 Growth Prize in the 2026 Tools Competition. The national competition awarded more than $3 million to support the next generation of educational technologies that improve learning and student outcomes.

Spark is a mobile-first, Canvas-embedded platform that brings together academic, career, and campus engagement data to give students a more complete picture of their college experience. By helping students better understand their progress and opportunities, the platform supports more informed decision-making throughout their academic journey.

The Growth Prize recognizes tools with demonstrated impact that are ready to expand their reach. Spark was selected from more than 1,400 submissions nationwide, including 360 teams competing in the Building Pathways to Postsecondary Success track.

"This recognition reflects years of collaboration across campus focused on using research and data to improve student success," said Richard Arum, professor of education and sociology and principal investigator of the MUST Project. "Spark gives students the tools to better navigate their educational experience, and this award will allow us to continue expanding its impact."
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The interdisciplinary project is led by Arum (principal investigator, UCI School of Education), Faith Ann Couts (co-principal investigator, UCI School of Education), June Ahn (co-principal investigator, UCI School of Education), Jeremy Thacker (UCI Office of Information Technology), and Ray Vadnais (UCI Office of Information Technology), with sponsorship from the Office of the Vice Provost for Teaching & Learning.