Nontechnical Summary The SPARK project aims to address a critical need for new light sources to advance quantum information science by developing materials and tools for the generation of single photons from atomic-scale defects in ultra-thin semiconductors. These single photons serve as the basic units of information in next-generation quantum computing and secure communications. The activity is a collaboration between Penn State University and the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology. It combines U.S. and international expertise in materials synthesis, microscopy, and quantum optics to examine how atoms embedded in two-dimensional semiconductors emit light. Understanding and controlling this process will help build new types of devices for communication and computing that are faster, more secure, and more energy-efficient than those used today. The project includes hands-on education and training for undergraduate and graduate students. A central education component is the creation of a new initiative called the Semiconductor Training and Research Initiatives for Veterans in Engineering - STRIVE. This program aims to provides U.S. military veterans with training in semiconductor research and manufacturing aligned with national workforce and security needs. Additional educational activities include specialized coursework, scientific writing workshops, and international exchange opportunities. These efforts ensure that students not only gain tech