1. Be a part of the change in our community!
Make a difference!
Be a part of the change in our community!
Let your voice be heard!
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

2. Sponsored by: Presented by: In partnership with:
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

3. What is Step Up?
The first Step Up was held in 2005 as a way to bring students and adults together in a dialogue that was believed to help identify the needs of the youth. We wanted to LISTEN to the youth and give them a VOICE. In 2010, Step Up was transformed into a program that empowers the youth themselves to take positive and impactful actions to make their communities a better place to live, to get an education and to play. Youth identify the issues that matter to them and they TAKE ACTION to create solutions!
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

4. How do you Step Up? Identify a topic important to you
Research the topic to become educated about it
Develop and implement an action plan or solution
Register by December 15, 2017 for SULYC
Attend an Orientation Session in January
Prepare and practice a 5 minute presentation
Present your project at the Main Competition on April 5, 2018 at LCPS Admin Building
The top 10 teams move into the Finals to determine their cash prizes on April 12, 2018 at K2M in Leesburg
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

5. Personalize Your Project
Identify an Issue:
Health & Wellness
Academic & Social Stress
Care for Others
Substance Abuse
Hunger & Homelessness
Environmental Issues
Education
Develop an Action Plan
How will YOU Make a Difference?
Plan a Rally
Start a Website
Raise Awareness of your Topic
Hold a Fundraiser
Start a Club
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

6. What’s a Team? You can work: Alone With a friend
With a group of friends
With a whole class!
Be on a team with people who are passionate about the topic! They can be from other schools, sports teams, clubs or religious groups.
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

7. Put it Down!
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

8. Iyush, Freya, Paras and Sauyma
Words of advice from
Iyush, Freya, Paras and Sauyma
Put It Down!

9. Call of Security
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

10. Kriti’s Perspective
on SULYC
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

11. What does the competition look like
What does the competition look like? It’s sort of like a science fair, but with community issues!
Four Components for Judging
Issue Analysis
Solution Quality
Community Impact
Presentation
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

12. Issue Analysis Investigate why the problem happens – the root cause
Analyze how it impacts your school or community
Find out if people have tried to solve this problem before – what roadblocks did they run into?
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

13. Solution Quality
Create a detailed solution (who? what? when? where? how?)
Connect the solution to the problem – does it really address the issue?
Collect data to show how your solution is making/will make an impact on your community
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

14. Community Impact P.A.S.T.A. We’re All Human
Over 92 community service projects
Youth create their service projects!
12+ chapters
Long lasting program!
Woodgrove students organized walk to raise awareness of teen suicide.
Spread to at least seven high schools and two middle schools.
Joined forces with Ryan Bartel Foundation.
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

15. Presentation
Remember who your audience is and what they might already know (or don’t know!)
Be specific – go through the important details that shaped your project
Share your passion! Get the audience excited about your project.
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

16. Let’s talk prizes!
1st place $1,000* 2nd place $500* 3rd place $250* 4th-10th places $100*
* Prize amounts may change due to fundraising.
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

17. 2016-2017 Top Teams First Place: Call of Security, $1,000
Developed a machine to combat cyber threats with hopes to bring it to every LCPS school and home!
Second Place: Put It Down!, $750
Spread awareness of distracted driving through events, social media campaigns, and pledges on their website.
Third Place: Clean Kits, $500
Created and distributed hygiene kits to homeless women throughout the County.
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

18. When do you Step Up? April 5, 2018 6-9pm LCPS Administration Building
21000 Education Court, Ashburn
The public is invited.
Registration begins at 5 pm.
Dinner will be provided for participants.
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

19. Finals and Awards Ceremony
April 12, 2018
6-9pm
K2M
600 Hope Pkwy, Leesburg 20175
The public is invited.
Registration begins at 5 pm.
Dinner will be provided for participants.
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

20. Believing that within you is an ability to change the world is the first step in making a difference.
-Dan Waldschmidt
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

21. Loudoun Youth, Inc. mjones@loudounyouth.org 703-626-4888
Questions?
Michelle Jones
Program Director
Loudoun Youth, Inc
Send photos of your meetings, projects and I’ll put them on social media. Share information about your events, links to your website, etc. and I’ll help you promote them!
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018

22. Additional Programs Battle of the Bands DCubed/The Point!
February 9, March 9 at Atlantis; Finals April 13 at The Tally Ho; 6-10 pm
DCubed/The Point!
Discuss, debate and discover new perspectives from high school peers from across the county. Second Thursdays of the month, 7-9 pm at Bean Bar Leesburg
Loudoun Youth Leadership Program
Summer leadership program for rising 10– 12 graders. Application process opens in February
Step Up Your Health Challenge – 5K and Fun Run
Earn 70% of registration costs for your school with 10+ registrants, May 6 at Oath (formerly Aol) at 8 am
Learn more about our programs at
Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition 2018