SkillsUSA Kevin Sparks Memorial Scholarship

Kevin Sparks

Everyone seemed to know Kevin, better known as “Sparky!” He was a great son, husband, father and friend. If you knew him, you loved him. 

Sparky always wanted to be in policing. He worked as a dispatcher, patrol officer, owner of a security company, and even worked with the Georgia Port Authority. He knew everyone in the business – from local police to presidents of major security groups. 

He began teaching several years ago. He was the LAPSEN Pathway Specialist for Security and Protective Services. In that role he literally founded the pathway work for LAPSEN. He taught at Peach County High School and was loved by his students. He and his family volunteered every year at SkillsUSA NLSC in Atlanta for the whole week! He was someone we could always count on. He was always “all in!” 

We lost him too soon! We want to honor his legacy. 

The Memorial Scholarship

A scholarship has been established to help SkillsUSA state champions attend the SkillsUSA National Leadership and Skills Conference in Atlanta in June. The target amount is $250 per scholarship. Each time $250 is raised, another student scholarship can be awarded. 

The scholarship will be awarded with these guidelines:

  • Law and Public Safety state champion – Criminal Justice, Crime Scene Team, EMT, & Firefighting.
  • Student must need assistance to attend nationals (not able to attend without outside assistance). 
  • Preference for a student is from a rural community. 
  • Preference for children of parents working in law and public safety or education (not required, but adds weight to application).  

Application 

Application deadline has passed for this year. 

 

How to Donate 

You can use the button to make a donation for $10, $25, $50 or $100. To donate another amount, try donating at those amounts to add up to your desired amount. Donations are being matched! So every $1 donated is quadrupled! Read the section below to learn more. 

You can send a check made out to LAPSEN. Mail it to LAPSEN, 735 Stratforde Drive, Milton, Georgia 30004.

We can also create an invoice if needed. 

Email tom@lapsen.org with questions. 

Matching Donors

Everytime you donate – these donors are committing to quadruple your donation! 

Would you like to be a matching donor? Email tom@lapsen.org to learn more. 

LAPSEN is matching the first $500 donated! We loved Kevin and want to honor his memory! We also know how much it means for young people to experience SkillsUSA NLSC!

Click here to donate

NECI9-1-1 dispatch training and certification is honored to match the first $250 donated! Thank you Chris Wood for your generous support of our SkillsUSA students! 

Click here to learn about NECI

iCEV online courses and testing is honored to match the first $250 donated! Thank you Mark Johnson for your generous support of our SkillsUSA students!

Click here to learn about iCEV

IFPO security foundation and training is honored to match the first $250 donated! Thank you Sandi Davies for your generous support of our SkillsUSA students! 

Click here to learn about IFPO

Or – Buy Coffee! 

Load up on amazing coffee! Steven Dalton was a cop and LPS teacher – now he keeps the world moving through the best coffee you’ve ever brewed. A generous portion of each purchase is being donated!

What is SkillsUSA?

SkillsUSA is the biggest skill competition in education! LAPSEN is the National Cluster Coordinator for the LPS competitions. SkillsUSA NLSC in Atlanta is an amazing event for our future leaders in law and public safety.

SkillsUSA is a national career and technical student organization serving teachers and high school and college students who are preparing for careers in technical, skilled and service occupations, including law and public safety careers. SkillsUSA was formerly known as VICA (the Vocational Industrial Clubs of America).

Learn more –  www.skillsusa.org/who-we-are 

National SkillsUSA LPS Competitions

Click on the icon below to learn more about these competitions. 

Crime Scene Investigation

Criminal Justice

Emergency Medical Technician 

Firefighting