2024 National Conference Highlights
The 2024 SPARC National Conference was a huge success! We send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who came to enjoy three days of learning, inspiration, and fun. With 275 attendees, it was the biggest we've held so far, and perhaps the hottest--the temperature topped out at a whopping 108 degrees. We welcomed 93 first-time attendees, hosted 20 sponsors, and learned from 60 Ignite and SPARCburst presenters!
And we're already gearing up for the next conference, which will be our ninth since we began in 2016. Mark your calendars for October 5 - October 8, 2025! Maybe we can beat a few of the records we set this year:
- Longest distance traveled by an attendee: 2,354 miles, from Guatemala City, Guatemala
- Zuzu fries consumed: 3,276
- Karaoke songs sung: 63
- Number of Excellence in Auxiliary Awards Presented: 4
- Number of SPARC t-shirts and apparel sold: 57
- How many people “jumped in puddles:" 275
- How many feet gained hiking Camelback Mountain: 1279
- Number of sunrise salutations during rooftop yoga: 36
- Suggested numbers when thinking about your auxiliary program portfolio: 70/20/10
- Number of times Michael Brandwein used someone's name when speaking to them: Every time!
To keep the momentum going, sign up for one of our upcoming regional events, register for a webinar, and share with colleagues in our roundtable discussions. Remember that SPARC Connect is open 24/7 with professional development tools and community support to power your auxiliary programs throughout the year.