History

SPARK » History

SPARK was organized and began in the summer of 1993 and was located on the campus of Penn Valley Community College. Over the next four years Penn Valley continued to grow and eventually needed additional space. SPARK began looking for options for the organization. In the spring of 1997 UMKC became the unanimous choice. There were obvious benefits to both parties. UMKC would have a thriving Lifelong Learning Institute (LLI) on campus and SPARK would have a collegiate environment and the intellectual and cultural resources of the university.

Did you know that membership in SPARK means you:

Keep Active

Meet Interesting People

Stay Current

Have Fun

Expand Your Horizons

Take Exciting Courses

Explore New Skills

Exchange Ideas

Make Connections.

Membership in your LLI gives you affiliation with Elderhostel (EIN) the Nation's largest and most prestigious educational network for older adults. The Lifelong Learning Institute movement across North America and Canada has more than 350 LLIs just like SPARK. Each is committed to excellence in providing lifelong learning opportunities for older adults. The philosophy behind Elderhostel and the Lifelong Learning Institute program is to provide, at a modest cost, academic experiences for all participants.

These experiences are available to everyone over 55 years of age with no regard to previous educational background. SPARK instructors are usually members who have a strong interest in a specific topic, or have had experience in a particular area. They are willing to volunteer their time and energies to sharing that information with our members. The courses are non-credit and offer the students a relaxed atmosphere with no exams or grades.