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 attendance: 3 sessions across the two modules. 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 equivalent specialization (e.g., 01 + 02 + 03 + 06 for a creative track). Minimum attendance: 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 program participants, typically over one school term. Sessions: 8 across the term. Modules: 01, 02, plus a creative or coding focus from 06 or 07. Capstone: A Scratch project, a Python script, a video, or a visual piece — completed and demonstrated. Parent / guardian orientation: Required before the device goes home. 30-minute session on safe use and what the student has learned. Award: Laptop + backpack + a learning bundle (printed quick-start, suggested next learning paths, calendar of follow-up sessions or alumni events).
Seniors Track¶
For: Older adults, first-time computer users, anyone for whom Module 08 is the right pace. Modules: 08 only. Sessions: 4. 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 (this is a hard commitment, not a "if we can" — the program does not consider a Seniors track completion 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 (separate workshop), 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. The ceremony matters for three reasons:
- For participants. Receiving the device in front of family, partners, and other graduates is meaningfully different from picking it up alone.
- For the program. It's the most powerful single fundraising and awareness moment Second Boot has.
- For partners. It demonstrates that the participant completed something real, and that the partner's investment of space, recruitment, and trust produced an outcome.
Phase 1 target: 4 ceremonies in the program's first year. See Impact & KPIs.
Ceremonies invite:
- Program graduates and their families
- Partner organization staff
- Donors (corporate and individual)
- Local press when appropriate
- Other cohort alumni
Participants are invited (never required) to share their story at the ceremony. 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 program's design. Exceptions are made case-by-case for hardship situations 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 "minimum sessions" requirement exists, not a pass/fail bar. Module 08's design assumes some participants will need significantly more sessions to be ready, and that's fine.
Can someone earn multiple devices over time? A graduate who returns to mentor (Mentor Grad track) earns an upgrade, not a duplicate. A participant who completes one track and wants to continue with additional modules is welcome but doesn't earn a second device for it.
What if a device breaks after award? The drop-in repair hours at the makerspace cover former participants. Replacement parts where available; replacement device for hardware failure within first 90 days where possible.