Lead4Change

Student Leadership Program

Lead4Change Honors Student Teams for Leadership and Civic Engagement

Published March 11, 2022

Students learned and practiced leadership skills while addressing issues in their schools and communities.

Broadlands, VA, March 15, 2022 – Today, 32 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 six 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 two 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.

The Lead4Change program is inspired by Founder & CEO of David Novak Leadership, 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.

“I believe that we all learn by doing and the Lead4Change program teaches students the leadership skills they need to think and act like leaders” said David Novak. “The Lead4Change Challenge results reveal what can happen when student teams are given the opportunity to practice leadership skills for the good of the community. It is amazing what can be accomplished when we learn to lead together.”

Grant awards are made to winners among Lead4Change Certified Schools, recognizing multi-year participation in the program, and non-certified schools participating for their first or second year.

The two grand prize recipient teams from Certified Schools are:

  • ELCO Thanks-Givers Team, Eastern Lebanon County High School, Myerstown, PA – Students decided to tackle a district wide project to get every class in every school involved in holiday giving. The method was a coin drive, while the efforts to raise coins were very different from class to class. Students grew more confident through each lesson, especially the Overcoming Barriers to Success activity. Teacher Holly Hartman reflected that “the investment of time in young men and women is the most rewarding opportunity in the world. During this project, I knew I was the luckiest person in the world, and it was a true blessing to be called their teacher. It is difficult to put into words the way these projects authentically change so many in our small community.”
  • The Leading Ducks Team, Mohave High School FCCLA, Bullhead City, AZ – With 38% of families in the county living at or below the poverty line, this team focused on supplying families with household items and food for children ages birth – 5. Through the lessons they gained confidence in themselves, built a strong team and allowed returning members to mentor new students through the program. Teacher Michele Leyendecker said “As they all found their own special way to contribute to the service project and they watched their BIG Goal double, triple, and quadruple – so did their leadership skills!! “

The four grand prize recipient teams from non-certified schools are:

  • Peace of Us Team, Explore Knowledge Academy, Las Vegas, NV – Students wrote “Each of us has direct experience of mental health struggles, either personally or because of a family member or friend, and we love our animals. By supporting Pet Partners of Las Vegas, we can combine what is important to us.” The team created and sold jewelry to raise awareness of and funds for Pet Partners. Teacher Tamara Kinoshita said “The biggest reward is knowing that what they learned during this experience will be memorable and help them in any career path they choose. I was also able to increase my motivation throughout the project because the students were always willing to improve and learn more.”

  • The Collective Team, Mountain Institute CTED FCCLA, Prescott, AZ – Culinary students chose to use their cooking skills to make and deliver pies as a way to appreciate Veterans and Health Care Workers in veteran facilities. Their project grew to include pies as appreciation for all firefighters in their community as well. Educator Shaun Rose said “I was really impressed with their knowledge and passion to want to recognize Veterans and Health Care workers. The team’s slogan, ‘Coming together, despite being different’ defined the diversity and cooperative spirit developed within the team.”

  • Trojan Heart 2022, Fife High School FBLA, Fife, WA – FBLA students worked to collect and disperse hygiene packs to all homeless people in their community. Students coordinated their effort through the community center and schools. Teacher Laura Ramos said “In order for students to really understand how to lead any team they really have to have a good understanding about who they are as an individual. The lessons provided in Lead4Change are truly life changing in the impact that they have had so far in my students’ lives. They are stronger and more confident as leaders and members of the team.”

  • McCracken County FCCLA, McCracken County High School, Paducah, KY – Inspired by the story of one special needs student, this team created the FCCLA Wishing Well. Providing magical experiences for young children who have disabilities was both rewarding to the recipient and the leaders who volunteered their time. Teacher Lauren Williams reflected “The lessons and videos in the Lead4Change Curriculum helped us keep on track with a success driven plan. Witnessing the impact this service project had on the school and community has inspired me to dream bigger and do larger projects that will benefit young children in our community.”

The Lead4Change Student Leadership Program is also awarding $500 charitable grants based on the outstanding works of the following teams:

  • Sack Sayings Team, Basha High School FCCLA, Chandler, AZ

  • Purple Warriors Team, Lakeview Jr Sr High School FBLA, Columbus, NE

  • ELCO Self Esteem Team, Eastern Lebanon County High School, Myerstown, PA

  • We’re for 4H Team, Randolph Macon Academy, Front Royal, VA

  • The Innovators Team, St. Paul’s Episcopal School, Mobile, AL

  • Sincerity Team, Cedar Crest High School FBLA, Lebanon, PA

  • The Color Crew Team, Spring Lake Park High School FCCLA, Spring Lake Park, MN

  • M&M Team, Al Furqan Academy, Jacksonville, FL

  • Nothing Be Lost and Hygiene for Homeless Teams, Our Lady of Lourdes Academy, Miami, FL

  • Warmth4Walsenburg Team, John Mall High School, Walsenburg, CO

  • Squeaky Clean Valley Team, Sun Valley High School, Monroe, NC

  • Cole’s Playground Posse Team, Bridger High School FCCLA, Bridger, MT

  • Colusa FBLA Team, Colusa High School, Colusa, CA

  • Baucom-Jackson Team, Patrick Henry High School, Ashland, VA

  • Cancer Crusaders Team, Maywood Public Schools, Maywood, NE

  • Go Compost Team, We Sense Inc, Chapel Hill, NC

  • Harker DECA Officers Team, Harker Upper School, San Jose, CA

  • Blazin Bulldogs ’22 Team, Georgetown High School, Georgetown, SC

  • Safety Crew Team, Montwood High School, El Paso, TX

  • The Hungry Pie-O-Neers Team, Lincoln Jr Sr High School, Bentonville, AR

  • Caring Christmas Team, Ontario Middle School, Ontario, OH

  • Make an Afghan’s Dream Come True Team, Farmwell Station Middle School, Ashburn, VA

  • The Very, Very Cool People Who Like Planet Earth and Think It’s Cool Team, Marshfield R-1 High

    School, Marshfield, MO

  • TSGA Sanitary Helpers Team, City of Pembroke Pines Middle School West, Pembroke Pines, FL

  • Seaside FBLA Book Nooks, Seaside High School, Seaside, OR

Complete rules and details on the Lead4Change Challenge are available at http://www.lead4change.org/

To learn more about the program, get involved and share your story, follow Lead4Change:

“The strength, resilience and purpose shown by students participating in Lead4Change this year was stunning!” said Diane Barrett, Executive Director, The Foundation for Impact on Literacy and Learning. “Participants learned skills needed to lead while navigating overwhelming changes in their lives as a result of the pandemic. Collaboration, goal setting, social and emotional learning was evidenced by their good work in Lead4Change Challenge projects. Thank you, educators and students!”

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. 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.fill.foundation

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:
Sara Pardys
G&S for Lead4Change spardys@gscommunications.com