For the past several years, Search Institute’s Summer Scholars Fellowship has been a space where emerging scholars and applied research meet in service of youth thriving. Designed to broaden pathways into applied positive youth development (PYD) for scholars from groups underrepresented in this field, the fellowship became much more than a summer program. It grew into a network of mentors and peers, and a catalyst for research that continues to impact our work and the wider PYD field.

As the program concludes, we want to celebrate the remarkable scholars who have been part of this journey and honor the lasting contributions their work has made—and continues to make.

A Fellowship Built on Relationships, Learning, and Equity

From the beginning, the Summer Scholars Fellowship centered scholars’ own identities, expertise, and commitments. Fellows were paired with mentors from Search Institute’s research team and immersed in practitioner- and youth-oriented projects that translate developmental science into practical solutions and insights for educators, youth programs, and community partners.

Across cohorts, scholars:

• Deepened their skills in working with quantitative and quantitative data.
• Learned how to translate complex findings into accessible, strengths-focused resources for practitioners.
• Connected with Search Institute’s network of practitioners and partners, seeing first-hand how applied research can inform program design and practice.
• Gained mentorship and career guidance, while building community with Search Institute colleagues and with each other.

Many came to Search Institute with a deep desire to conduct research that highlights the existing strengths of youth and communities who have been pushed to the margins, and they left with new skills, expanded networks, and renewed clarity about the kind of scholar and practitioner they want to be.

Scholarship That Continues to Shape the Field

Summer Scholars’ work lives on in a  rich collection of blogs and publications that continue to inform practice and conversation. Their contributions are aligned with our core expertise in developmental relationships, social capital, and the creation of equitable institutional climates. These pieces are not only a record of what scholars accomplished; they are active, evidence-based resources that continue to support the vital work of our youth-serving partners.

A Legacy of Insight, A Future of Impact

While we are celebrating our last cohort as the conclusion of the Summer Scholars Fellowship, this transition doesn't signal an end to our commitment to emerging scholars or to broadening the pathways into applied PYD research. Rather, we are using the lessons learned from this program—about mentorship, belonging, and shared inquiry—to evolve our efforts and design future initiatives that are even more responsive to the needs of today's scholars and communities.

With Deep Gratitude to Our Scholars

To every Summer Scholar (2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025) who has been part of this program: thank you.

Thank you for your scholarship, your questions, your courage, and your insistence that research must serve real young people, families, and communities. Your work has already influenced how we and our partners understand and support youth thriving—and its impact will only grow as your careers continue.

We are grateful for all we’ve learned with you and look forward to collaborating in new ways as we continue working toward a world where every young person feels valued, supported, and empowered to thrive.