The Sanford Burnham Prebys Institute’s third cohort of Summer Program to Accelerate Regenerative medicine Knowledge (SPARK) interns were comprised of young scholars representing the diversity of California’s population. In this reporting period, interns were selected from ten high schools throughout San Diego County, a region with considerable economic and ethnic diversity. Throughout the course of their six-week program, our SPARK participants were fully immersed in out-of-classroom scientific enrichment experiences, namely workshops and visits to local biotechnology companies such as Vertex and Illumina. In direct alignment with the stated goals of the SPARK Program (i.e., to offer California high school students an opportunity to gain hands-on training in laboratories at leading research institutes in California), our internship provided mentored learning experiences in stem cell biology at a world-class research Institute with an esteemed track-record of educating the next generation of scientists. To this end, Sanford Burnham Prebys’ research enterprise – comprising biologists, chemists, and clinicians with extensive expertise in stem cell biology and allied disciplines – is dedicated to conducting excellent, rigorous, cutting-edge studies targeting human disorders. Working alongside our elite staff scientists and trainees (graduate students and postdoctoral fellows), our interns were transformed into active participants within our diverse, multidisciplinary community. As well, students gained experience with translation of research to clinical settings by attending Bedside to Bench sessions headed by Dr. Evan Snyder. By the completion of their internship, all students developed not only a foundational knowledge of stem cell biology, but also a sense of the excitement of a STEM career. Moreover, at least 4 students have decided to continue working in the research labs where they spent their summers. This highlights both the positive experience in the SPARK program as well as the incredible drive to perform lab work and still be high school students! These exciting outcomes are in direct alignment with CIRM and Sanford Burnham Prebys’ dual commitment to investing in the next generation of researchers and ensuring that the state of California has young scientists ready to continue the search for cures.