Spark is an orientation week of service for incoming residential first-year students. ‘Sparkers’ move in one week early to spend time doing volunteer service and learning about social issues. The service week ends when Wolfpack Welcome begins. For pictures of Spark 2012 , click here!

Spark is also a Themed Living Community. All Spark students will live together on their own floor in Buddig Hall throughout the year, working as a team to develop one service day or advocacy project per semester.

Schedule: Saturday, August 17th - Wednesday, August 21st 2013

Saturday and Sunday
You and the fam get to come for an early move-in to the residence halls. There will be a welcome BBQ on Saturday and a presentation for everyone about the Spark program. At Sunday brunch, everyone will say goodbye to family and friends and hello to Spark!

Monday through Wednesday
On Monday, the service work will begin and continue through Wednesday. While not out doing service, Spark participants will take part in a teach-in style seminar on charity and justice work. In the evenings, fellow Loyola students will offer presentations on getting involved on campus and in New Orleans.

A typical day during Spark:

Spark 2013 Community Partners

This year, Sparkers will serve with three agencies during their week of service:

Hike for KaTREEna seeks to replace the tens of thousands of trees that were lost during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The agency has planted over 20,000 trees since its founding in 2006. Sparkers will help to maintain newly planted trees by trimming, mulching and more.

St. Paul's Homecoming Center provides relief to homeowners whose property was damaged or destroyed during Hurricanes Katrina (2005) and Isaac (2012). The Center's mission is to restore lives by rebuilding homes. Sparkers will work under the supervision of an expert team to help rebuild houses. Don't worry-- no carpentry experience necessary!

The Second Harvest Food Bank is a fully accredited member of America’s Second Harvest – The Nation’s Food Bank Network. It receives donated food from all over the nation and distributes it through a network of over 240 non-profit agencies throughout 23 parishes in Louisiana. Sparkers will help sort and prepare donated food for distribution.

The Spark Teach-In Experience

Spark volunteers will experience a three-part seminar series hosted by a Loyola faculty member. The teach-in is designed to orient Spark participants to the Jesuit mission and identity of Loyola University New Orleans and provide an intellectual context for the work that volunteers will be doing.

Spark Requirements

Spark 2013 is open to incoming, first year residential students only. 

Selected students will be asked to pay a one-time fee of $150. This fee covers all transportation, meals, special events, housing, and service work for the program. Scholarships are available for those who need them.

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