UofL student, Army veteran hopes to work as an environmental engineer
June 11, 2025
Benjamin Sparks, a U.S. Army veteran and UofL student, has his sights set on tackling the water crisis in the western United States caused by climate change and unsustainable water management practices.
Sparks, a junior majoring in civil and environmental engineering, plans to complete his Master of Business Administration at UofL before relocating to Colorado Springs to work on environmental solutions.
Sparks hails from French Village, Missouri. From 2006 to 2014, he served in the U.S. Army as an infantryman, rising to the rank of staff sergeant. After completing basic training and advanced individual training, his first duty station was Fort McNair, Washington D.C., where he was assigned to the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment, known as The Old Guard.
The Old Guard’s primary role is to conduct funerals in Arlington National Cemetery for active duty, retired, and veteran service members. It also provides flag display backgrounds for press conferences and ceremonies in the Pentagon and Capitol building, and “maintains traditions with the Commander-in-Chiefs’ Guard.”
Sparks performed roles as escort platoon member, full honors firing party member, firing party commander, colors guard member, regimental colors bearer, Arlington Lady escort, and fire team leader.
Memorable moments from his time there include marching in the funeral of President Gerald Ford and serving as an escort at the inauguration of President Obama. He also earned the Expert Infantryman’s Badge, Parachutist Badge, and attained the rank of Sergeant.
In 2010, he re-enlisted and was sent to Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. While there, he served as a fire team leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant, MRAP truck commander, and Stryker vehicle commander, earning the Combat Infantryman’s Badge and obtaining the rank of staff sergeant. During a deployment to Kirkuk, Iraq, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, Sparks sustained injuries from an improvised explosive device.
Several years passed between separating from the Army and choosing to attend college. After choosing to leave Missouri, he selected the University of Louisville after researching schools with environmental engineering programs in cities with a relatively low cost of living.
As a first-generation student, returning to school after a 16-year break, Sparks said he faced challenges, including navigating the Department of Veteran Affairs’ education benefits system. He credits the UofL Center for Military-Connected Students, particularly VA education benefits manager Carissa Gentry, for supporting his transition.
“She always made time when it was needed,” Sparks said. He says from the first time she helped him work through some bugs in the VA benefits process, to personally handling tasks outside of her scope of work, to being an active listener during a “vent session” – she always went above and beyond.
UofL is proud to recognize and celebrate Sparks and all members and veterans of the U.S. Army on the U.S. Army’s 250th birthday, June 14 of this year.
