The Middle School now has an opportunity to share their ideas, and make those ideas a reality through a program called Student Incubator Grants. Now with this program, students in the Middle School can start new clubs, microcourses, and more. The deadline to apply for an incubator grant is November 20th, and interviews will take place after Thanksgiving break.
This program has opened up many possibilities for middle school students. When asked about incubator grants, Mrs. Vithayathil, the Director of Student Idea Center, said, “Student-led projects have always been encouraged at Malvern; Student Incubator Grants provide students with a platform and clear process to get an idea off the ground.”
When asked about the application process, Mrs. V stated, “In the fall and spring, students are invited to apply for Incubator Grants. Fall applications for the Upper School were due on October 10th. A panel of faculty and administrators reviewed all student projects to ensure we did our best to thoroughly consider every application. Upper School Incubator Grant recipients will be notified by the end of Term 1.” She also added, “The Middle School process is a little different, with interested students participating in a Design Thinking microcourse before applying for a grant. By offering coaching, space, and financial support to grant recipients, the program encourages students to engage in entrepreneurial efforts that will meaningfully contribute to our community.”
This program has already been very successful with high school students. Mrs. V explained, “They aimed to achieve a variety of goals: addressing hunger in Chester County, creating Malvern’s first student-run musical production, developing a sports drink for Malvern athletes, working with a school in Costa Rica to develop a robotics program, and bringing together musicians from area schools for a Battle of the Bands.”
This year, incubator grants are open to seventh and eighth grade students. Anyone who has an idea they’d like to explore should submit an application.
