Students developed leadership skills and addressed issues such as food insecurity, homelessness and lymphedema
NEWARK, Del., March 10, 2020 – Today, 31 middle school and high school teams have been selected as winners of the Lead4Change Challenge. The Lead4Change Student Leadership Program teaches students leadership lessons which include skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, communication and collaboration. Students work to develop a service project that addresses a need in their community using these skills. The top seven teams each earned a $10,000 grant for a nonprofit of their choice.
Lead4Change is the nation’s fastest-growing privately funded student leadership program. More than 1.5 million students across all 50 states have had the opportunity to grow as leaders through Lead4Change’s free curriculum. The lessons align to educational standards, including Literacy, Social Emotional Learning and Project-Based Learning.
Prizes were divided among Lead4Change Certified Schools, recognizing multi-year participation in the program, and non-certified schools.
The two grand prize recipient teams from certified schools are:
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Grassfield High School, “The Can-Do’s” team, Chesapeake, Virginia – The team of Leadership, FBLA and DECA students led a variety of activities, including Halloween, Thanksgiving and neighborhood food drives, exceeding their goal of collecting 10,000 cans. Teacher David Thaw says, “The students quickly learn that when they set big goals and challenge themselves to do great things, they not only benefit themselves as leaders but more importantly, they benefit the community we serve.”
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Port Chester Middle School, “PC Hunger Fighters,” Port Chester, New York – Based on the sustainable development goals outlined by the United Nations, the summer school team chose to tackle food insecurity by creating vertical gardens at their local community garden. Teacher Allison Silverman says, “We are already working on our next projects and getting a meeting together to see how we can grow this program for next summer.”
The five grand prize recipient teams from non-certified schools are:
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Bates Middle School, “Bates’ Bodacious Bantams,” Sumter, South Carolina – Students assisted a local homeless shelter, collecting supplies from individuals throughout their school. Teacher Thomas Loner says, “This program forced me to give up “control” of my classroom and let students become leaders.”
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ELCO, “Hartman’s Holiday Helpers,” Myerstown, Pennsylvania – The team showed appreciation for local senior citizens by visiting a retirement home and hosting a holiday party. Teacher Holly Hartman says, “I can’t thank Lead4Change enough for helping to develop a world that realizes the importance of service and caring about others.”
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Lebanon Technology and Career Center, “LTCC FBLA,” Lebanon, Missouri – The team met a big goal by ‘locking up’ local leaders to raise money and bring attention to March of Dimes. Teacher Rebecca Hudson says, “I have seen students utilizing what they learned through the Lead4Change lesson plans in other projects. Seeing them use these lessons in another project on their own really shows how great the tools and skills they learn are.”
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Lincoln Junior High School, Bentonville, Arkansans – A special prize was jointly awarded to the 28 student teams from the 8th grade Leadership Class that participated in the program, each addressing a different need in their community. Teacher Mindy Becker says, “It made my heart full to see them trying so hard to make a difference for others.”
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South Williamsport High School FCCLA, “Mountie Lymphedema Advocates!,” South Williamsport, Pennsylvania – The team researched lymphedema and insurance coverage and set up a meeting with a Pennsylvania State House and Senate representative, leading to the creation of a bill to address these issues. Teacher Patricia Schick says, “I was excited to see how impressed other adults outside of the school community were with the future leaders from our school.”
The Lead4Change Student Leadership Program is also awarding $500 charitable grants based on the outstanding works of the following teams:
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Mohave High School FCCLA ECE, “T-Birds Shoot to Clothe Children in Need” team, Bullhead City, AZ
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Spring Lake Park High School FCCLA, “Spring Lake Park FCCLA Books” team, Spring Lake Park, MN
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Al-Furqan Academy, “Winter Doves” team, Jacksonville, FL
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Andover Central Middle School, “Kick for a Cause” team, Andover, KS
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Avon Grove High School, “#AGE” FBLA and Business Education team, West Grove, PA
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Brownstown Central High School, “Drug Dodgers” DECA team, Brownstown, IN
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Brownstown Central High School, “Top Dog” DECA team, Brownstown, IN
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Cedar Crest High School FBLA, “Rise Above, CCHS FBLA” team, Lebanon, PA
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Cedar Crest High School FBLA, “Teens Against Vaping – CCHS FBLA” team, Lebanon, PA
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ELCO, “Big Hearted Raiders” team, Myerstown, PA
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Fife High School, “Trojan Heart” FBLA team, Fife WA
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High Plains Technology Center, “Paw Patrol” DECA team, Woodward, OK
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Jared’s Heart of Success Youth Organzation/Club, “Branch Out Ambassadors” team, Stone
Mountain, GA
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Lakeview Jr Sr High School, “Dance4Change” FBLA team, Columbus, NE
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Lakeview Jr Sr High School, “Poverty Pals” FBLA team, Colmbus, NE
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Little Falls Community High School, “LFCHS Food Drive” DECA team, Little Falls, MN
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Logan-Hocking High School, “Animal Rescue” FCCLA team, Logan, OH
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Logan-Hocking High School, “Kyli’s Light” FCCLA team, Logan, OH
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Logan-Hocking High School, “Team Awareness” FCCLA team, Logan, OH
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RCHS, “Avengers” FCCLA team, Riverview, MI
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RCHS, “The Unknowns” FCCLA team, Riverview, MI
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Seaside High School, “Seaside FBLA – Global” team, Seaside, Oregon
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Seaside High School, “Seaside FBLA – Local” team, Seaside, Oregon
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St. Paul’s Episcopal School, “4 Culture” team, Mobile, AL
The Lead4Change program is inspired by Founder & CEO of oGoLead, Co-Founder, retired Chairman and CEO of Yum! Brands and leadership expert, David Novak, and developed by the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning and the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation.
“The beauty of the Lead4Change program is in watching students apply the leadership skills they’ve learned in the classroom to a real need within their community,” said David Novak. “We hope this experience sparks a passion in students and helps them see their ability to positively impact the world.”
“Each year I am amazed with the growth and sense of purpose that these projects create in both students and teachers who participate in the program,” said Diane Barrett, Executive Director of the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning. “The impact that these projects have on our broader communities cannot be understated.”
Complete rules and details on the Lead4Change Challenge are available at http://www.lead4change.org/ To watch the action, get involved and learn more, follow Lead4Change:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Lead4Changeorg/
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/Lead4Changeorg
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lead4changeorg/
About Lead4Change
The Lead4Change Student Leadership Program was created by the Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning and the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation to encourage middle and high school students to hone leadership skills by completing a service project around a community need involving a public nonprofit.
About Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning
The Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning was established in 2003 as a public charity. The Foundation supports and builds alliances that enhance innovative, instructional programs and community outreach by providing the resources to promote new opportunities and participation. FILL is a supporting foundation to the International Literacy Association. The foundation welcomes participation in efforts to engage, enlighten and inspire today’s students and educators by opening their classrooms to the real world. Find out more at www.fillprograms.org.
About Lift a Life Foundation
The Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation was established in 1999 by David and Wendy Novak. The mission of the Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation is to lead the way with innovative programs that help people in need and develop future leaders. The Foundation focuses on creative partnerships that make a lasting impact in the primary areas of hunger relief, early childhood education, juvenile diabetes, military family support and leadership development. Since Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation began, it has helped thousands of people in need through grants and programming support. For more information on Lift a Life Novak Family Foundation, go to www.liftalifefoundation.org.
Contact:
Jessica Chen
G&S for Lead4Change 917.595.3055 jchen@gscommunications.com