MANSFIELD — Kris Beasley and Benjamin Davis want students at Mansfield Senior High to realize they’re part of a bigger legacy.
That’s why they’re bringing some of school district’s distinguished alumni back to where it all began.
Mansfield Senior High will host its first SPARK Conference later this month in collaboration with Mansfield UMADAOP and We ACT.
The one-day conference will take place during the school day, with all juniors and seniors in attendance. It will feature multiple panels of speakers, all graduates of Malabar High School or Mansfield Senior High.
“We’re trying to connect our kids to the greatness that walks the halls of Mansfield Senior High and that has walked the halls of Mansfield Senior High,” said Beasley, the school’s principal.
“We’ve got folks flying in from all over the country at their own expense to come,” he said. “They thought this was so important to come and present to our children.”
The acronym SPARK stands for self-discovery, purpose, achievement, resilience and knowledge of culture and history.
SPARK will include talks from entrepreneurs, innovators, creators and community leaders.
Davis, who recently became the executive director of Mansfield UMADAOP, said the idea for the conference came from his mentor, Tim Holt Sr. of We ACT.
Organizers said they hope the event will be much more than a school assembly or speaker series.
Their goal is students will leave thinking about their future — whether that means employment, military enlistment, entrepreneurship or higher education.
“We’re going to reiterate the idea that success looks many different ways,” Beasley said. “We are training kids for what comes next, and we’re trying to ignite that spark in them.”
Davis said they also plan to pair speakers from the event to provide ongoing mentorship for students who need extra support
“We want to put our arms around them, throughout the school year, to get them through,” Davis said.
“This is not just a one-time event. This is something that we want to do throughout 2027 and hopefully we’ll be able to do it again next year because of the positive response and the impact.”
Beasley said stakes are high when it comes to supporting and inspiring students.
“Our kids in our community go through a lot. They have a lot in their backgrounds and they all need somebody to be their person,” he said.
“Mansfield Senior High is the hub of this city. How Mansfield Senior High goes is how Mansfield will go,” he added. “So we’ve got to perform. We’ve got to prepare these kids, but at the same time, we have to have the community support.”
That support will be evident on Sept. 17, with a diverse set of Tygers descending on Linden Road.
Alumni speakers will include Runako Pitts (vice president of sales for Michelin); Jamilah Ewing (podcaster); Amanda Love (senior designer at Abercrombie & Fitch); Khyrie Tyler (Grammy-winning producer and songwriter; Billy Link Jr. (senior executive at Walmart); Judge Phil Naumoff (Richland County Common Pleas Court); Doug Wolfe (freelance photographer); Rachel Shoemake (audiologist); Hugh Douglas (professional football player and radio host); Ricky Minard (professional basketball player); Cameron Haring (president and owner of DECA Manufacturing); and Michael Gernhardt (NASA astronaut and professional deep sea diver).
Mansfield City Councilman Aurelio Diaz will emcee the event. Kyle Weese, another Mansfield alumnus who works for Microsoft, will provide tech support for virtual presenters.
“The SPARK Conference is a powerful opportunity for high school students to explore their potential, gain leadership skills and connect with mentors who can help guide their future,” said Brigitte Coles, We ACT cofounder.
“By inspiring creativity, confidence and collaboration, it equips young people to become the changemakers of tomorrow.”
