Graduated Year: 2008

At Sparks High, I played Football my Freshman & Sophomore years & Tennis my Junior & Senior years.

My fondest memory as a Sparks High School student was going undefeated my sophomore year on the football team and being pulled up to play on Varsity for the playoff game.

I was inspired to give back to Sparks High School to be able to give back to the school and to ensure our fellow Railroaders enjoy their years at Sparks High School and are more prepared to take on the world once they walk out of the Brickhouse.

I decided to become involved with the Sparks High School Alumni Association to connect the older generations that went to Sparks High with the younger ones. We’re all one community at Sparks High and being able to reinforce the motto of “Once a Railroader, Always a Railroader” in all generations. We all love Sparks High school and being able to bring everyone together for the benefit of our beloved High School.

I see my role as a committee member to continue connecting all generations of Sparks High School together for the benefit of the school and its students. I also see a role in showing the current students that there is a whole group of Alumni that love and support them and truly do want them to be the best humans they can be so they can continue to represent Sparks High School in the positive light it has had for generations.

Graduated Year: 2006

I played Varsity soccer all 4 years, Basketball, and I did Track and Field. I also was a part of the Hispanic Club, Student Leadership, and was Student Body President. I am now the current Sparks High School Boys Varsity head coach.

My fondest memory was winning the first regional championship for the soccer program. It was truly a culmination of the years of effort and hard work put in by the players and coaching staff.

While I was in school I knew that there were people giving of themselves, time, effort, and sacrifices to help make my school experience the best possible. As an Alumni I feel that we have a responsibility to try and do the same. I was once told that if we could change 1 life we did well.

I got involved with the Alumni Association by Donald Abbott inviting me to attend a meeting and immediately felt that I wanted to help get our association active and help current students at Sparks High. I wanted to ensure that we embraced the past alumni while also creating new followings for all alumni as we continue to represent our motto "Once A Railroader, Always A Railroader."

I hope to inspire alumni to come and join us and show what it means to be a Railroader for life. I hope that we can create an experience for all alumni to feel included and welcomed as we all felt while attending Sparks High. The uniqueness of our Student Body and the ability to bring together different people from all walks of life is truly what I feel represents SHS. If we can bring that light to our Alumni Association then we can continue to grow our sense of unity in our community!

Graduated Year: 2008

At Sparks High, I was editor of the yearbook and enjoyed ceramics and woodshop.

When I was a Sparks High student I loved going to school to see my friends, as an adult you don’t get that. You don’t always get to spend every day around some of your favorite people (unless you are lucky enough to work with your closest friends).

I was inspired to give back to Sparks High School because I’m a third-generation SHS graduate, I like the idea of carrying on something that my family was so proud to be part of.

I decided to get involved with the Sparks High School Alumni association because there were limited volunteers, I saw there was a need and wanted to step up to help support the students of Sparks High.

My goal as a committee member is to see families and alumni getting involved again. I want other alumni to see that they can make a difference in a child’s life by helping to provide opportunities to volunteer, donate or to mentor students.

Graduated Year: 2014

I participated in Soccer, Golf, Block S, Honor Society, JROTC Staff at Sparks High.

My fondest memory from High School was traveling all over the state to play soccer. I enjoyed the long bus rides, hanging out with the rest of my teammates, and seeing different parts of the state I had never visited before. At the time we were one of the best teams in the state and we almost always won wherever we went. More than anything I miss the camaraderie we had on the team at the time.

What inspired me to give back to SHS was the fact that this is my community. I grew up here and relate to every kid who walks through those halls. I would like to make an impact so that the future kids who graduate are better prepared for life than I was after I graduated.

I got involved with SHS alumni because that is my community. After college I wanted to do something to give back to the community, especially the kids and I thought the best place to start would be my own community with Sparks High because I can relate to those kids the most.

I currently work in finance and I’ve realized that much of the information kids need to know once their adults are absent from their curriculum. I would like to make it so that the next generation of SHS grads is better prepared for life than I was. Whether that is through helping more kids get scholarships or finding a way to teach kids about money so that they don’t have to guess through life as I did.

Graduated Year: 1983

Throughout the four years at Sparks High I was involved in Pep Club, FBLA (Future Business Leaders on America), the Maroon and Gold Society (Girls Athletic Club). I also was on the golf team for 3 years and lettered in golf and was the manager for the girls' varsity volleyball team. All of which I had so much fun doing.

I had so many great memories from my Sparks High years, but I would have to say attending the football and basketball games on Friday nights were what I looked forward to and the fun we had at the games cheering on the Railroaders. My freshman year football homecoming week will always stand out of one of my favorite high school memories though, participating in the street snake dance, the bonfire and the shaving cream fight. It was amazing!

I am proud to be a Sparks Railroader; Sparks High gave me so much in the ways of lifelong friendships and memories and education. If I am able to help the current generation achieve some of what I was able to get during my time at Sparks High, it would be a bonus to my own Sparks High memories.

It really hit me during the 2020 graduating year when COVID hit and took away what every high school senior and their families should get to enjoy...their graduation cerimony. I couldn't do much to change that, but I was able to adopt a couple of seniors from Sparks, although my own children were graduating from Reed that same year, in the hope that it would give them a little joy or maybe a positive memory of their last year at Sparks High School.

To be honest I was not aware of the Sparks High School Alumni Foundation until it was brought to my attention by my friend, classmate and fellow trustee Tracy Kingsley-Bidart. She suggested we go to a meeting and see what it is all about. I believe after the first meeting I applied to become a member of the Alumni Foundation and was luckily excepted. In my opinion there was no better way of using some of my free time since retirement than to my Almer Moder and the current students and their futures attending Sparks High School.

Graduated Year: 1983

I played Basketball, ran Track and lettered in Golf. I was also involved in Leadership where I held class offices and became the Senior Class President along with the President of the Honor Society. I also participated on the Drill team and was active with the Pep Club.

My fondest memories are infinite, however the highlights would be organizing and getting our Senior Class the opportunity to attend Grad Night at Disneyland, spending Friday nights at school sporting events and homecoming weeks were we spent hours building class floats.

I was inspired to join the SHS Alumni Foundation to continue to contribute to the greater good of a community, one that provided me ongoing opportunities to thrive and continues to provide students amazing opportunities to succeed. High School is a time of decision-making that begins to lead you to adulthood. The choices I made were heavily influenced by the experiences and mentorship of faculty, staff and peers at SHS and I hope to be a part of that mentorship and pay it forward.

I hope to encourage alumni to become actively involved and donate of their time or their talents. The quote I heard every day of my career in education was “It takes a village to raise a child” and I feel this to be true with all the challenges faced by many teenagers in our public school system today. I would encourage everyone to be a part of the village and participate in any way you feel comfortable.

Graduated year: 2006

At Sparks High, I played football, wrestled, ran track, sang baritone/tenor in choir, and was in the National Honors Society.

Going into my sophomore year playing football, we were in the transition to dropping to 3A, and no one outside of our team expected much of us. Yet, Coach Kittrell refused to let us settle for complacency and pushed us hard. We had a team most thought would win maybe one game; however we ended up beating several teams we “shouldn’t” have beaten (including one with a future NFL linebacker). But beyond wins and losses, that year in football taught me that I was capable of more than I believed I was. It taught me to embrace challenges and hard work, because they eventually pay off.

Many of the successes of my life I can attribute to the lessons and skills I learned while at Sparks High School. For instance, while I didn’t end up playing football beyond high school, I rely extensively on the mental toughness and perseverance in the wake of adversity I picked up from that experience now as a practicing attorney. I continue to benefit greatly from the experiences I had at Sparks High, and I feel duty-bound to ensure that current and future Railroaders have access to the opportunities I was blessed to have.

The Sparks High community is a close, tight-knit community that spans generations. In conjunction with my work with the Sparks High Booster Club, the Alumni Association is an organization that complements our mission to support the students of Sparks High School and set them up for success.

I view this organization as being a key player in advocating for the interests of the Sparks High student body and community. Whether through advocating for our school community in public meetings, or through raising funds and putting on events, I seek to use my position as a trustee to ensure our community has the tools needed to succeed.

Graduated Year: 2005

I participated in Tennis, Basketball and Golf when I was at Sparks High.

My favorite memory from high school was winning the Sparks High Boy representative of the year for the class of 2005.

I was inspired to get involved because thinking back to what Sparks High School did for me and I want to see future generations have the same, if not better, opportunities than I had.

I got involved with the Sparks High School Alumni Association because I would like to see some of the younger generations become more involved in alumni events. So many relationships are built in high school and alumni events are a great way to preserve them. I want to help facilitate this.

I see myself serving a role to help SHS by helping to guide alumni association reorganization efforts. I want to help provide a foundation for the association to thrive for future generations. Engaging the younger alumni while preserving the history of the association is my main goal as a committee member.

Graduated Year: 1988

I was the Sports Editor of the Streamline newspaper, Block S Club member, and was on the Football & Baseball team. I am now the School Registrar at SHS, Head Varsity Baseball Coach, Block S Advisor, and Sparks Booster Club President.

My fondest memory at Sparks High was wearing “Sparks” across my chest on Friday nights.

Seeing Sparks High kids are like me when I was that age is what inspired me to give back. I want to give back what my coaches gave to me. This school helped grow me into the person I am today.

I decided to get involved with the Sparks High School Alumni Association because we have the greatest students and former students. We have learned a lot in life, and it is time to give back to our fellow Railroaders!

I am looking forward to being on the committee and moving SHS forward in the community and within the School district.

Graduated Year: 1974

While I was at Sparks High I was on the wrestling team in 72 and 73, the golf team for 72, 73, 74, and Block S in 73 and 74.

My fondest memory as a student was being a part of the 1973 Northern Nevada Zone Wrestling championship team.

When we moved back to Sparks in 2019 I continued my occupation as a basketball referee. I have reffed several boys and girls games and I was impressed with the comradery on the teams and the coaching staff. That is what inspired me to give back to Sparks High.

I wanted to get involved because due to myself being retired I have the time to give back and I want to support the school.

I’m looking forward to working with my fellow committee to support the current school students and to enhance the relations with the alumni.