MVPS  Innovation  Diploma  

Mount  Vernon  Presbyterian  School’s  Innovation  Diploma  offers  an  unparalleled  opportunity  for  high  school  students  to  observe,  question,  empathize,  experiment,  craft,  and  implement  innovations  in  a  variety  of  fields  and  contexts  before  leaving  Upper  School.  The  Innovation  Diploma  presents  an  ideal  experience  for  students  with  enthusiasm  for  the  worlds  of  entrepreneurial,  philanthropic,  technological,  and  engineering  fields  and  a  desire  to  make  an  impact  in  their  communities.    To  earn  the  Innovation  Diploma,  students  engage  in  immersive  exploration  and  empathy,  experiment  as  they  design  solutions  to  problems  they  observe  and  discover,  and  launch  and  implement  innovative  solutions  within  an  environment  of  feedback  and  support.  In  addition,  students  complete  a  variety  of  coursework  focused  around  skills  of  design  thinking,  problem-­‐based  learning,  innovative  technologies,  and  passion-­‐finding.  Required  travel  and  internship  experience  take  students  to  observe  and  practice  with  innovators  in  Atlanta,  the  Southeast,  national  innovation  hubs  in  Silicon  Valley  and  New  York  City,  and  global  centers  of  innovation.  Ongoing,  extended  projects  challenge  students  to  design  and  implement  innovations  that  positively  enhance  their  local,  national,  and  global  communities.    Core  Components  of  the  Innovation  Diploma  

• Cohort  of  student  innovators  • Accelerator  projects    • Advisement  from  MVPS  and  external  expert  mentors  • Signature  coursework    • Travel    • Internships  and  Retreats  

 Who  Should  Apply?  

Students  who  are:  • Striving  to  make  an  impact  in  their  communities  • Eager  to  develop  the  habits  of  innovators  and  implement  their  own  ideas  • Excited  about  using  empathy  to  design  solutions  to  problems    • Interested  in  innovation  in  the  worlds  of  technology,  engineering,  and/or  social  responsibility  

 Details  

• Student  Innovation  Community  fills  one  elective  space  per  semester  and  includes  Thursday  morning  cohort  meetings  

• Student  application  due  February  21  to  Mrs.  Breite  • Program  fee  of  $3,500  per  year  includes:  

• Fieldwork  in  Atlanta’s  innovation  community  • Annual  retreat  • Interim  travel  study  • Personalized  advisement  and  mentorship  by  Innovation  Diploma  Director  

   

To  learn  more,  join  us  for  Parent  University:  Innovation  Diploma  on  Wednesday,  January  29  at  6:00  pm  in  the  Glenn  Campus  Media  Center.