How do you get 80+ alumni to spend a weekend celebrating a club they joined over a decade ago?

What follows is a look back at the weekend we built together—equal parts memories and new memories made.

Over 81 alumni showed up, spanning 10 graduating classes, across 3 days, 5 events, and countless hugs. From the first invite to the final group photo, this recap captures how we returned not just to each other, but to the spirit of Spark itself.

Step 1: The invite - things we emphasized in our invitation

More than a reunion, this weekend is a moment to pause and reflect—on who we were, who we’ve become, and how Spark shaped the path in between. It’s not just a party; it’s a chance to reconnect with yourself, your people, and the culture we built together.

1. Reconnect – If you’ve felt distant from your college self, you’re not alone. This weekend is a chance to return to that version of you—and connect with others who shaped it.

2. Share Stories – Saturday includes a collective storytelling session. Bring a memory. We’re building an archive by alumni, for alumni—not just for current Spark members.

3. Celebrate Each Other – Hear stories from fellow alumni at meals throughout the weekend, shared by 3 members of the organization, Stephen, Pricilla, and Cherrie

4. Take Home a Souvenir – Everyone who RSVPs gets a small, thoughtful memento (not a t-shirt) to remember it by.

5. Enjoy the Magic – Wine night, shared meals, and maybe even a late-night Taco Zone run—yes, it’s all happening

   

   

Step 2: The Schedule

Step 3: The hype

Show people’s excitement for the weekend and rally different friend groups within the community. If your friends are going - you will likely go.

Step 4: Make the weekend tangible

It’s important to provide both physical and digital assets that guide people towards reconnecting with one another. We did this through creating:

• Alumni Yearbook (2025 Edition) –
  • We compiled a digital yearbook to encourage everyone to connect. It was designed to help people get past, “So, what have you been up to?” and into some of the fun stuff — what people are curious about, what they want you to ask them about, and how to get in contact with them in the weeks to come.
  • 48 people are in the Alumni Yearbook. One of my favorite parts is reading people’s adoring shoutouts.

• Alumni Teahouse Storytime: Three featured alumni told 10-minute stories under lamplight:

  • Priscilla Pan shared how a simple study group ask turned into unexpected community.
  • Cherrie Wang recalled a leadership moment that pushed her past doubt—and what she carried from SCF into her career.
  • Stephen Chen reflected on rejection, humility, and the long arc of Spark growth.

  

• Over 300 Spark photos on a table for collaging

  • People flipped through 300+ printed fellowship photos, sparking quiet, informal storytelling all night. Some alumni even took photos home to mail to friends who couldn’t make it.

• A Presentation on Spark’s History

  • Trey Heine went slide for slide on the same presentation on the history of Spark that he originally gave at a Hacker House Board meeting on October 22, 2018.
    • It's now 2025 and that presentation is in the second grade. We recorded most of it, so you can listen to Trey talk through the slides while you scroll through the deck

• Laser-Cut Name Tags – made by Christine

  • Every alum got a laser-cut name tag, courtesy of Christine Lai! There were blanks available for surprise guests :)

  

• State of Spark: Lightning Talk Slide Decks + Videos – VC Academy, Trojan Marketplace, Bay Trip

  • After some brief opening remarks, co-presidents Andres and Elvira presented on the State of Spark.
    • We watched three lightning presentations from current committee leads: