Every 29 seconds, a student drops out of school! Low graduation = high joblessness.

"This is a problem we can’t afford to accept or ignore. The stakes are too high – for our children, for our economy, for our country. It’s time for all of us to come together – parents and students, principals and teachers, business leaders and elected officials – to end America’s dropout crisis."

- President Barack Obama

This year's essay question was:

What can be done to decrease the alarming high school drop-out rate?
Winning student received:

    - $5,000 to make their idea a reality
    - $1,000 college scholarship
    - DROBE, custom suit for graduation

Click here to read the winning essay.

-    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    -    

Last year's Style is Power essay contest

In light of the violence plaguing our community – leap and DROBE, Inc. sponsored the 1st annual Style is Power essay contest open to all high school seniors in Los Angeles County. The goal of the essay contest was to affect change by urging students to write about neighborhood reformation. The response was overwhelming.

The topic was focused on community improvement:
How would you best use $5,000 to enhance the quality of life in your community?
Click here to read the winning essay from last year's competition.





See more pictures from last year's event here

What can you do to help?

   - make a donation to help leap raise
     $6,500

   - tell high school students to submit
     their essay

   - have parents of students, high
     school principals and administrators
     solicit essays

Donate by mail