Spark Program

Do you love to volunteer? Do you enjoy donating to good causes, or raising awareness about a cause? Have you taken classes with a service element? If so, you can be formally recognized for your hard work, dedication, and community building efforts, by earning the Spark Community Engagement Award.

Spark Award Logo

Developed to encourage and reward students who participate in community engagement opportunities at WCU, the Spark Program is open to all students. Engagement activities are divided into four categories:

Direct Service
Civic Involvement
Philanthropy
Awareness and Advocacy

Spark Direct Service

Students can earn the Spark Community Engagement Award by participating in direct service volunteerism and participating in civic engagement events.

Once students completed the first two Spark components, they will be invited to complete the Spark Community Engagement Award with Distinction by planning and completing a philanthropic project and submitting a Impact Focus Area presentation.

Get Started & View Progress

Visit “engage.wcu.edu” and hit “sign in” in the top right-hand corner.
Click on your profile (initials or picture) in the top right-hand corner and select “Paths”.
Select “Spark Award” to view component requirements and to view your progress bar.

Spark Community Engagement Award Requirements

This award encourages students to become engaged in community and civic activities through direct service and participation in events. To obtain the award students must complete the following:

Direct Service	Civic Engagement
Complete 50 Hours of Direct Service. Log all 50 Service Hours into Engage.	Attend 5 Civic Education Events. Send a Letter to a Local or State Representative.

For more details about the requirements for each component, reference the "Spark Award Guiding Packet" in the Resources section below.

Once you have completed the Spark Community Engagement Award requirements, you will be recognized with the following:

Spark Cords to wear at Graduation.
Spark Certificate presented at CCESL's Annual Impact Awards Banquet.
Meaningful community impact and cultivating a practice of social responsibility through service.
Valuable experience to list on your resume and discuss with future employers.

Spark Community Engagement Award with Distinction Requirements

Once you have completed the Spark Community Engagement Award requirements, you can begin working on the Spark Community Engagement Award with Distinction. This award encourages students to become engaged by going above and beyond to host a philanthropic event and create a presentation based on one of the CCESL Impact Focus Areas. To obtain the award students must complete the following:

Philanthropy	Advocacy & Education
Host 1 Donation or Item Drive with a Community Organization.	Submit a presentation about one of the CCESL Impact Focus Areas to explain the issue in the WNC region, what local organization address that area, and how WCU students can get involved.

For more details about the requirements for each component, reference the "Spark Award Guiding Packet" in the Resources section below.

Once you have completed the Spark Community Engagement Award with Distinction requirements, you will be recognized with the following:

Spark with Distinction Cords to wear at Graduation.
Spark with Distinction Certificate presented at CCESL's Annual Impact Awards Banquet.
Meaningful community impact and cultivating a practice of social responsibility through service.
Valuable experience to list on your resume and discuss with future employers.