sPark 2016 Schedule Overview
On April 1-2, 2016, about 150 Park Scholars, alumni, faculty, families, and friends came together on the NC State campus for the first biannual sPark.
View photos from sPark 2016!
Friday, April 1 – 5:30-9:00 pm
Mountains/Piedmont Ballroom, Talley Student Union
2610 Cates Avenue (see campus map)
- 5:30-6:30 pm – Check-In and Welcome Reception
- 6:30-8:00 pm – Dinner and Event Kickoff with sPark Keynote
- Dr. Ricky Bloomfield ‘02, Hospitalist and Director of Mobile Technology Strategy, Duke University Health System and CEO, G-Whizz! Apps
- 8:00-9:00 pm – Optional Networking Social at WXYZ Bar, Aloft Hotel, 2100 Hillsborough Street
Saturday, April 2 – 8:00 am-8:00 pm
Duke Energy Hall, James B. Hunt, Jr. Library
1070 Partners Way (see campus map)
- 8:00-9:00 am – Continental Breakfast (and Late Check-In)
- 9:00-10:00 am – What’s Your sPark?
Park Scholars and alumni share their passions, TED-style- Daniel Mellinger ‘07, Senior Staff Engineer/Manager, Qualcomm Research Philadelphia
- Casey Sokolovic ‘19, Founder, Help Them LAST – Love A Sea Turtle
- Allison Hauser ‘05, Executive Director, Girls on the Run NYC
- Avi Aggarwal ‘16, NC State Chapter President, National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Tomás Carbonell ‘02, Associate, Van Ness Feldman PC
- 10:15-11:45 am – Get Fired Up
Panel discussions on topics ranging from healthcare to civic service- A Climate of Collaboration: Perspectives on Sustainable Behaviors and Technology in Response to Climate Change (panelists: Tomás Carbonell ‘02, Logan Dawson ’12, Jeremy Diner ’08, Dr. Ben Gaddy ’07, Annie Lopez ’17, and Gretchen Stokes ’13)
- Food Security (panelists: Dr. Natalie Cooke ’10, Becky Dobosy ’14, Cat Harward ’17, and Dr. Bob Patterson)
- Healthcare: What’s your Point of View? (panelists: Dr. Ricky Bloomfield ’02, John Campbell ’10, Alyssa D’Addezio ’14, Sammi Fernandes ’17, and Brian McKearney ’11)
- Women in Science & Engineering (panelists: Dr. Courtney Fox ’10, Lauren Frey ’17, Daniel Hoag ’03, and Casey Sokolovic ’19)
- 12:00-1:30 pm – Lunch
- 1:30-2:45 pm – Take Action: ‘How To’ Sessions
You’re sure to gain a new skill or two here- How to Apply Human Centered Design to Your Life (presenters: Joe Bond ’15, Wade Colburn ’14, and Brian Gaudio ’13)
- How to Become an Education Advocate (presenters: Dr. Matt Campbell ’05, Nation Hahn, Jessie Jordan Hathcock ’11, and Ashley Lawson ’18)
- How to Influence Government (presenters: Frank Hill, Neal Robbins ’01, and Andriy Shymonyak ’15)
- How to (Re-) Invent Your Career (presenters: Chasta Hamilton Calhoun ’07, Mitch Danforth ’07, and Kyle Held ’09)
- 3:15-3:45 pm – Now What Do I Do?
- Jones Loflin, Speaker/Trainer/Author, Helping Others Prepare for Excellence Inc.
- 3:45-5:00 pm – Focus on Park Scholarships: Past, Present, and Future
A time for insights and discussion about the program - 5:30-8:00 pm – Happy Hour, Dinner, and 20th Anniversary Celebration
Celebrate with us at NC State’s beautiful Lonnie Poole Golf Course!