'Step Up Loudoun Youth' Competition Registration Opens Oct. 3

LOUDOUN COUNTY, VA – Registration opens for the 7th Annual Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition on Monday, Oct. 3. Hosted by Loudoun Youth, Inc., the competition challenges middle and high school students to identify an issue that matters to them and the community and to create and implement a program to make a difference. More than $2,500 will be given to the top teams to help support their programs, according to Loudoun Youth, Inc.

Step Up Loudoun Youth Competition is presented annually by Loudoun Youth Inc. in partnership with Loudoun County Parks, Recreation and Community Services, the Youth Advisory Council and Loudoun County Public Schools.

"The youth in Loudoun County inspire and amaze me every year. The issues they tackle and the solutions they find truly make a difference in our community, in their schools, and in their personal lives,” said Jared Melvin, President and CEO of Loudoun Youth. “We had teams this past spring address teen suicide in their high schools, a personal and heroic program to combat sexual assault, and teen volunteering for peers, among many others.”

According to Loudoun Youth, Inc., last year’s pool of talent started with a record number 98 teams in the Fall and resulted in 59 teams presenting at the competition in late March. Topics ranged from providing opportunities for at-risk youth, feeding the homeless, personal health and safety, unique ways of learning and promoting science, technology, engineering and math for girls--and more.

The top three finishers from the 2015/16 Step Up competition are all still hard at work. PASTA (Peers and Students Taking Action) continues to line up volunteer opportunities for teens across the County to make a difference. Breaking Your Silence continues to make a huge difference in the world of sexual assault and We’re All Human in the world of teen suicide.

“The Loudoun Youth Step Up Competition shows the impressive work that young people can do when they are challenged to make a meaningful contribution,” said Dr. Eric Williams, Superintendent of Loudoun County Public Schools. “When students work to make a difference, they truly own their work. They are incredibly engaged, persisting even when they face obstacles.”

The deadline to submit an entry to the competition is Dec. 16. Teams will present their projects on March 28, 2017 at Trailside Middle School in Ashburn and the top 10 teams will present at The Club at One Loudoun on April 5, 2017.

For more information on Loudoun Youth, visit loudounyouth.org.

Photo courtesy of Loudoun Youth, Inc.