Award Program¶
The laptop is not a giveaway — it is earned. This framing is a deliberate design choice intended to build ownership, pride, and program retention.
Honest framing
[HYPOTHESIS] The "earned, not given" framing improves retention and post-program outcomes compared to direct device giveaways in this population. This is a program design bet, not validated evidence. Measure it across the first cohorts before claiming it works.
Tracks at a glance¶
| Track | Completion | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | Modules 1 + 2, min. 3 sessions, basic skills assessment | Refurbished laptop (Grade B) |
| Full | Modules 1–4 or chosen specialization, min. 6 sessions, peer presentation | Refurbished laptop (Grade A) + accessories |
| Youth | After-school term, 8 sessions, Scratch or Python mini-project, parent orientation | Laptop + backpack + learning bundle |
| Seniors | 4-session dedicated curriculum (Module 08), buddy system, completion-based | Laptop + in-home / in-community setup visit |
| Mentor Grad | Alumni return as facilitators after instructor training | Upgraded device or tablet |
Starter Track¶
For: Adults coming in cold who want the core competencies. Modules: 01, 02. Minimum 3 sessions. Assessment: Basic skills check — can the participant log in independently, send an email, recognize a phishing attempt? Award: Refurbished laptop, Grade B.
Full Track¶
For: Adults who want a complete program, including specialization. Modules: 01, 02, 04, 05 — or an equivalent specialization (e.g., 01 + 02 + 03 + 06 for a creative track). Minimum 6 sessions. Capstone: Peer presentation of one finished thing — a resume, a creative piece, a personal project, an explanation of a tool they learned. Award: Refurbished laptop, Grade A, plus accessories (mouse, sleeve, charger if not already included).
Youth Track¶
For: After-school participants, typically over one school term. 8 sessions. Modules: 01, 02, plus a creative or coding focus from 06 or 07. Capstone: A Scratch project, Python script, video, or visual piece — completed and demonstrated. Parent / guardian orientation: Required before the device goes home. 30-minute session on safe use and what the student learned. Award: Laptop + backpack + a learning bundle (printed quick-start, suggested next learning paths, follow-up calendar).
Seniors Track¶
For: Older adults, first-time computer users, anyone for whom Module 08 is the right pace. Modules: 08 only. 4 sessions. Buddy system: Required — every participant paired with a volunteer for all four sessions. Assessment: Completion-based, no test. The four practical milestones in Module 08 are the criteria. Award: Laptop + an in-home or in-community setup visit — a hard commitment, not an "if we can." A Seniors track completion is not finished until the setup visit happens.
Mentor Grad¶
For: Program alumni who return to mentor or instruct future cohorts. Path: After completing any award track, the participant attends an instructor-training pass, then assists or leads sessions in their own community group. Award: Upgraded device, tablet, or accessories — recognition for stepping into the Peer Instructor workforce role. Compensation: Mentor Grads who become regular instructors transition into stipend or paid status. See Workforce Development.
The ceremony¶
Every cohort ends in a graduation ceremony when logistically possible. It matters for three reasons:
- For participants. Receiving the device in front of family and other graduates is meaningfully different from picking it up alone.
- For the program. It is the most powerful single fundraising and awareness moment Boot Up has.
- For partners. It demonstrates that the participant completed something real, and that the partner's investment produced an outcome.
Phase 1 target: 4 ceremonies in the program's first year. See Impact & KPIs.
Ceremonies invite graduates and families, partner staff, donors, local press when appropriate, and other cohort alumni. Participants are invited (never required) to share their story. Stories are not recorded or photographed without explicit consent, and consent can be withdrawn at any time.
Award eligibility — common questions¶
Can someone receive a device without finishing a track? Generally no — the earned framing is core to the design. Exceptions are made case-by-case for hardship and require Program Director approval.
What if a participant attends but can't pass the basic skills check? They continue working with the cohort. The requirement is minimum sessions, not a pass/fail bar. Module 08 assumes some participants need significantly more sessions, and that's fine.
Can someone earn multiple devices over time? A graduate who returns to mentor (Mentor Grad) earns an upgrade, not a duplicate. Completing one track and continuing with additional modules is welcome but doesn't earn a second device.
What if a device breaks after award? Drop-in repair hours at the makerspace cover former participants — replacement parts where available, replacement device for hardware failure within the first 90 days where possible.