The Mission Spark Fellows Program - Mission Spark

The Mission Spark Fellows Program

Each year, Mission Spark offers paid fellowships to dynamic and social impact-minded individuals who can provide meaningful contributions to our projects.

Fellows receive mentorship on career and educational pathways from Mission Spark consultants, as well as six sessions of professional and personal development coaching by a CTI-trained coach. Fellows work independently on projects, with guidance from Mission Spark consultants and clients.

Ideal Candidates for Mission Spark Fellowships

Mission Spark considers applications from high-performing and social justice-oriented undergraduate and graduate students, or recent graduates, interested in social impact careers.

Ideal candidates should possess exemplary communication, writing, and analytical skills, be able to produce high-quality work on deadlines, demonstrate a proven commitment to making a positive difference in the world, and be able to work independently.

How to Apply

The Mission Spark Fellowship will NOT be active for Summer 2023 and will return in Fall 2024, along with our full summer fellowship program for Summer 2024. Please contact us for more information.

Current Fellows

Megan Waitman

Megan Waitman is a senior Boettcher Scholar at the University of Colorado at Boulder where she is obtaining a double major in Psychology and Leadership and Community Engagement (LCE). She is passionate about leadership and service and strives to build a career in strategic consulting where she can utilize her passions to spark social change. Throughout college, Megan has worked with various non-profit organizations which has enabled her to gain a deeper passion for social justice work, especially in areas involving youth. In her free time, Megan enjoys tutoring K-12 students, serving on local community service committees, and embracing all the outdoors have to offer.

Past Fellows

Maddi Schink 2022 Fellow

Maddi is a rising senior at Colorado College studying Environmental Studies and Education. Originally from Fort Collins, Colorado, Maddi is passionate about climate justice, environmental education, gun violence prevention, and mental health. Since high school, Maddi has worked with various nonprofits and is excited to be joining the Mission Spark team once again to make a meaningful impact and build skills needed for a career in public service. Maddi has been involved with student service organizations, voter registrations, political campaigns, and the Colorado Springs K-12 education system. Maddi is a Boettcher Scholar and was recently selected.

Alexis Harris 2022 Fellow

Alexis Harris is completing her Master’s in Instruction and Curriculum at University of Colorado, Boulder, after majoring in English with a teaching licensure in secondary education and a minor in Technology, Arts, and Media in her undergraduate. She has worked on numerous design projects, including web design and graphic design, for the university and faculty members as an intern and privately contracted employee. Previously, Alexis has worked with Mission Spark as a consultant and Design Specialist. Alexis is interested in finding ways that all parts of her degree can be used to create a positive social impact, especially in the educational sector.

Elle Hagler 2021 Fellow

Elle is a Senior at Colorado College studying sociology. She has experience in non-profit fundraising, reproductive justice, and climate organizing. Elle is excited to incorporate her previous experiences into her work at Mission Spark and jump into social impact consulting.

Emily McKinley 2021 Fellow

Emily is a third-year student studying economics at Colorado College. Through time spent working for nonprofits, the quad innovation alliance, and volunteering within the K-12 education system in Colorado Springs, her interest in impact-driven work has grown. She was drawn to mission spark for its combination of consulting and meaningful work, and is excited to gain more experience in this field.

Yvonne Macias 2021 Fellow

Yvonne is a rising senior at Claremont McKenna College studying Science Management with a concentration in Public Health. Her experience at the Kravis Lab for Social Impact has equipped her with various tools to asses how a nonprofit is addressing a social issue. She is excited to gain a deeper understanding of the nonprofit/social sector world with the Mission Spark Fellowship program.

Anila Narayana 2021 Fellow

Anila is a Junior at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Integrative Physiology, Geography, and Public Health. She is interested in advocating for health equity and environmental justice in her community, at both individual and institutional levels. In her free time, Anila likes to paint with watercolors and (try to) complete New York Times crossword puzzles.

Grace Tumavicus 2021 Fellow

Grace is from Maine and moved to Colorado to attend Colorado College where she studies Sociology and Gender studies. She has experience with both administrative and outreach-focused non-profit work as well as political campaign experience. She is passionate about creating collaborative, sustainable social change, and is interested in the intersection of identity and community.

Benjamin Swift 2020 Fellow

Benjamin is a fourth-year student studying sociology at Colorado College. He has experience in nonprofit fundraising, immigration advocacy, environmental sustainability, and academic ecological research.

Benjamin is interested in the intersection of environmental and social issues and led a campaign to ban single-use plastic bags in his hometown of Crested Butte, Colorado.

At Colorado College, Benjamin is an Intern at the Office of Sustainability, co-captain of the Nordic Ski Team, a member of the President’s Council, and has worked as an Admission Ambassador.

Jenna Brethauer 2020 Fellow

Jenna is a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder studying political science and leadership. By working for Teach for America, she has become interested in both education and public health, and she desires an impact-driven path following graduation.

Molly Jordan Little 2020 Fellow

Molly is a Junior at the University of Colorado – Boulder studying Integrative Physiology and Psychology with a minor in Leadership. She is a 2018 Boettcher Scholar and was drawn to Mission Spark due to the combination of non-profits and consulting.

Jordan Lobato 2020 Fellow

Jordan grew up on a small cattle ranch near Center, Colorado, and she is a Junior at Colorado State University studying Agricultural Business and Environmental Economics. She has experience in the nonprofit sector as a Boettcher Scholar and former El Pomar Foundation Intern. After college, Jordan is eager to pursue a law degree where she can combine her passion for agriculture and public service.

Anila Narayana 2020 Fellow

Anila is a Sophomore at the University of Colorado Boulder studying Integrative Physiology, Geography, and Public Health. She is interested in helping close gaps in healthcare access for marginalized communities, and she is enthusiastic to be a Mission Spark Fellow to gain experience in nonprofit and social impact work.

Katie Nicolaou 2020 Fellow

Katie grew up in Maine and moved to Denver after graduating from Colby College in 2018 with a degree in Global Studies. She has spent the past two years teaching second grade in Northwest Denver as a Teach for America Corps Member.

Katie is interested in pursuing a career that will allow her to work across public and private sectors to create more positive educational outcomes for a variety of people.

Sarah Packard 2020 Fellow

Sarah is a Junior at Colorado College studying biochemistry. She has spent time in academic polar geophysics research investigating the Ross Ice Shelf in Antarctica. She also has experience in science communication, effectively communicating the tools and resources developed by marine research to stakeholders.

Sarah is interested in how science can be utilized by legislators, as well as organizations within the social sector, to inform public policy and develop effective initiatives and programs.

Gillian Breuer 2019 Fellow

At the University of Denver, Gillian studies public policy and business management. She also travels nationally and internationally as part of the University of Denver British Parliamentary Debate Team. She has experience working with organizations like Scholars Unlimited, AmeriCorps VISTA, and the Inspire Youth Project. She is a 2015 Bezos Scholar and a 2016 Boettcher Scholar.

Kelly Dinneen 2019 Fellow

Kelly is a Boettcher Scholar studying philosophy, cognitive science, and mathematics at the University of Colorado Boulder. She is interested in education, as it interacts with emerging technologies and contributes to individual and community well-being.

Bradley Johnson 2019 Fellow

Bradley grew up living and working on Collins Ranch in Kit Carson, Colorado. He now attends Colorado State University where he is studying Farm and Ranch Management and Environmental Economics. This summer Bradley will be working as a floor trader for La Vaca Trading and serving on the Mission Spark team.

Mari McCarville 2019 Fellow

Mari is a fourth-year student studying music and psychology at the University of Denver. She is concurrently pursuing a Masters Degree in Curriculum and Instruction to earn her elementary teaching license with an endorsement in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Education at the Morgridge College of Education. As a Boettcher Scholar and Colorado native, Mari strives to merge her interests in the arts and sciences to support marginalized communities across the state.

Faith McKenna 2019 Fellow

Faith is a Colorado native from the small mountain town of Salida. She recently completed an undergraduate degree in International Studies from the University of Denver, and will be continuing on to pursue a graduate degree in International Political Economy.

Maddison Schink 2019 Fellow

After graduating from high school last May, Maddison took a gap year in Ecuador. She will now be attending Colorado College in the fall, where she plans to study Environmental Science and Policy, as well as Spanish. Throughout high school and gap year, Maddison interned with various nonprofits and organizations that focused on environmental sustainability, community service and global awareness.

Joshua Sun 2019 Fellow

Joshua is a rising sophomore at CU Boulder majoring in Statistics and Data Science, with an emphasis in Economics. He has worked as a video producer and a Learning Assistant at CU.