The NSCA Education Foundation is excited to announce its third virtual celebration to raise funds for Ignite, an industry initiative focused on attracting and retaining next-generation workers in our industry. “Be the Spark” is a completely online experience being held on Dec. 8, 2022, from 5pm to 6:30pm CT.

This year’s event will be hosted by Tim Albright, founder of AVNation. He’ll be joined live by NSCA CEO Chuck Wilson, NSCA Director of Workforce Development Jeff Kindig, and other industry special guests. “Be the Spark” will kick off with a virtual happy hour so attendees can prepare their beverage of choice and get ready to enjoy the evening.

Funds raised during the event will support scholarships, internships, and resources to help the Ignite program continue to attract new talent to the commercial integration industry. Live and silent auctions will also help the NSCA Education Foundation reach its fundraising goals. This year, auction items will include spectacular trips and amazing gift packages, including:

Ultimate Pro Sports Fan Getaway: a trip for two to the winner’s choice of an MLB, NBA, NFL, or NHL regular-season game
Trip to Athens, Greece: a trip for two to visit the city’s beautiful hillsides, vistas, and temples
Lotto Gift Package: 30 lottery tickets of various values
Design Your Own Vans: customize a pair of Vans sneakers
Harman AKG Lyra USB Microphone: professional-sounding audio for creative projects—from live streams to recording music
The auction site goes live for bidding on Nov. 29 at 8am CT, but attendees can view auction items now. Every few days, new prizes will be added to the site. At that time, attendees will be able to bid on auction items and make tax-deductible donations to the NSCA Education Foundation through the online auction portal.

“Labor issues continue to be top of mind for almost every NSCA member as they face worker shortages and look for unique ways to retain workers,” says NSCA CEO Chuck Wilson. “Ignite is dedicated to closing the gap between students and our industry by making sure up-and-coming generations know about the career opportunities in technology. ‘Be the Spark’ will help Ignite raise funds so it can continue to build a pipeline of future workers to keep our industry strong.”

Industry professionals and their guests are invited to attend “Be the Spark” to enjoy the entertainment, learn more about Ignite and the NSCA Education Foundation, bid on auction items, and make tax-deductible donations online. RSVP here. For more information about the event, or to donate, contact Content & Events Manager Emma Oldenburg at eoldenburg@nsca.org.

About NSCA Education Foundation
The mission of the NSCA Education Foundation is to advance educational opportunities by providing scholarships and awards to assist existing professionals and those pursuing careers within the low-voltage electronic systems integration industry. The foundation is committed to the growth of the industry by providing access to the best education and latest techniques available. The NSCA Education Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, promotes and engages current and future electronic systems integrators in educational experiences to enhance the growth, professionalism and business skills needed in the electronic systems industry. For more information, visit www.nsca.org/nsca-education-foundation.