Country of Residence
United States
Age
15
Project title
LCA Connect
Project Summary: Describe your project in one sentence
I designed LCA Connect to help my classmates at Lighthouse Christian Academy find school-approved opportunities in Bloomington, from volunteering at a food pantry to gaining hands-on experience in fields that interest them, so they can make informed career choices and build their college application portfolios.
Website URL(s) or social media handles.
Project Category
My project is a brand new / emerging idea
Project Stage
Idea (We’re hoping to get started in the future)
Founding Story: What was the spark that led you to start your project? What was the "Aha!" moment that led you to get started and see the potential for this to succeed?
My “Aha!” moment came when I started preparing for college and created my own model of a competitive college application portfolio based on my research. I divided it into six areas: academics, extracurricular activities, leadership and innovation, career experience, community service, and personal projects. I estimated that career experience and community service together should represent about 20%, one-fifth, of the portfolio I want to build. That made me ask: where do I actually find these opportunities? Career exploration is especially important to me. My mom sees medicine or engineering as great possibilities for me, but I see myself more as an entrepreneur and hope to study business. With AI rapidly changing the workplace, I think high school students need opportunities to explore careers early, not wait until college to discover what fits them. Then I realized this was bigger than my own college preparation. I attend a small private school, and we do not have one place connecting students with alumni, businesses, churches, nonprofits, and professionals for service and career opportunities. That became LCA Connect. I want to help my schoolmates serve our community, explore careers, and build their futures—and someday, as an alumnus, I hope LCA Connect will help me stay involved and give opportunities back to the students who come after me.
The Problem: What problem are you helping to solve? Why does it matter to you and your community?
Living in a small city like Bloomington, I see three challenges for students my age. First, it can be hard to find jobs or safe opportunities to serve the community and gain work experience. Students may want to volunteer, shadow a professional, or earn money, but knowing where to look and which opportunities accept teenagers can be difficult. Second, at 15, I am still figuring out what kind of career I want. It is hard to choose a profession when you have had little chance to see what people actually do at work. My classmates and I need opportunities to try different things, ask questions, and discover what interests us. Third, choosing a career also means understanding the education it requires. Before deciding on a college major or training program, we need to learn which courses, skills, and qualifications will help us pursue that path. Without experience and guidance, it can be difficult to make informed choices about our education. This matters to me because I want to help students at Lighthouse Christian Academy explore their futures while contributing to Bloomington. Local organizations can benefit from our help, and we can learn from the people working in our community
Your Solution: How are you solving this problem? Share your specific solution.
I designed LCA Connect as a free online platform where students at Lighthouse Christian Academy could find local service and career opportunities in one place. My next step is to seek school approval for a small pilot. Alumni, businesses, nonprofits, and other community partners would submit volunteer projects, job shadowing, internships, or jobs. Each listing would explain the activity, age requirements, schedule, supervision, and pay when applicable. LCA administrators would review partners and opportunities before students could access them. Students would sign in to their own dashboard, browse approved listings, and request to participate. They could check their application status and keep a record of completed experiences, hours, and skills in a portfolio. Partners would confirm participation and hours. For example, a student interested in business could shadow a local professional, see what the work involves, and ask which education or training helped that person enter the field. A student volunteering at a food pantry could help meet a community need while gaining teamwork and organizational skills. The resources section would connect students with information about education and training options, scholarships, and financial aid. Alumni could also share their experiences of choosing a major and entering a profession. I would begin with a proposed three-month pilot involving 20–30 students, 3–5 partners, and 6–10 approved opportunities. I would use feedback from students, partners, and school staff to improve the process. My goal is to help classmates serve our community, discover careers that interest them, and make more informed choices about their education.
Impact: How has your project created impact / made a difference so far? Or, if at an early stage, what will impact look like?
LCA Connect is in the planning stage. So far, I have developed the idea into a presentation and designed how students, alumni, and community partners could use the platform. For a proposed three-month pilot, I hope to involve 20–30 students and 3–5 partners offering 6–10 school-approved opportunities. For me, success would mean a classmate getting a chance to explore an interest that otherwise might remain just an idea. A student could shadow someone in a field they are considering, learn what the work involves, and understand which education or training they would need. Discovering that a career does not fit could also help them make a better decision. The community would benefit too. Students could help nonprofits with volunteer projects, support local events, and build relationships with people outside school. Those experiences could strengthen their confidence and college portfolios. I would track how many students apply, complete experiences, and return for another opportunity, along with hours confirmed by partners. I would ask students what they learned about possible careers and education choices, and ask partners how students helped their work. I believe this can work because LCA already has connections with alumni and local organizations. Even a few willing partners could give students more ways to serve and learn.
Your Innovation: What is different about your project compared to other programs or solutions already out there? How is your project new or innovative?
Schools and professional groups use networks to connect people with opportunities. My idea is to customize that approach for Lighthouse Christian Academy, where most high school students are minors and need adult guidance as they begin serving their community and exploring careers. LCA Connect would put school oversight at the center of those connections. Alumni, businesses, nonprofits, and other partners could submit opportunities. LCA administrators would review the organizations, age requirements, supervision, and schedules before approving listings. This would give students and families a school-supported starting point for finding suitable opportunities. The platform would also connect career exploration with education planning. While students complete their high school diploma requirements, LCA Connect would serve as a bridge to their professional future through practical experience and guidance. A student could shadow a local professional, learn what the work involves, and ask what courses, degree, or training would prepare them for that profession. Students could explore their interests before making important decisions about their education. Separate dashboards would help students find opportunities and record their experiences, while partners could submit listings and confirm participation. Alumni could share their career paths, offer mentorship, or introduce students to their workplaces. What makes LCA Connect different is how these pieces would work together for our particular community. Students would have guidance while gaining experience, and local organizations would have an organized way to involve them. As students graduate, they could stay connected as alumni and offer opportunities to the next group.
How many people are on your team?
1
Your team: What role(s) do your team members play? How do you share leadership with them?
I am a Founder and a Project Leader. I am currently working on LCA Connect on my own and have submitted my idea to LCA administration. I hope to continue leading the project while inviting fellow students to help with technical development, outreach, and feedback. We would work under LCA administration’s close guidance and oversight. I would share responsibilities based on our strengths, welcome others’ ideas, and give students opportunities to lead parts of the project.
What’s Next: What are the next steps you plan to take to grow or strengthen your project over the next year? If your project is still in the idea stage, describe the steps you will take over the next three months to launch or begin developing it.
LCA Connect depends on close collaboration with LCA administration. I am currently waiting for their response to my proposal. If they approve, I hope to form a team of students, staff, and an administration representative. In the first month after approval, we would meet with administrators to plan how the platform should work, refine each dashboard, and discuss student protection, including partner review, age requirements, supervision, and potential risks. I also want the public page to share what I love about LCA and the education I receive there, helping more people learn about our school. During the second month, we would continue development and invite local organizations and alumni to offer volunteer opportunities and career experiences. LCA administration would oversee partnership agreements. A small group of student and alumni volunteers could help add approved information and test how the platform works. During the third month, we would gather feedback, fix problems, and improve the pilot. I expect much of the next year to involve continued development and learning what works, with the pace guided by LCA administration. My goal is to help classmates serve our community and gain experience that helps them prepare for their future professions.
How do you encourage other people to join your project or learn about the problem you’re working on? If you have a new idea, tell us how you will do this in the future.
So far, I have developed the idea for LCA Connect on my own and submitted my proposal to LCA administration. I am waiting for their response. With approval, I would start by asking classmates what makes finding service or career opportunities difficult and what they would want the platform to offer. I would use a short school presentation, announcements, and the parent newsletter to explain the idea and invite students to choose a role. Students interested in technology could help build and test the platform. Others could lead outreach, create promotional materials, or gather feedback. Each volunteer could lead a task and help choose which opportunities we seek first, based on classmates’ interests. With LCA’s guidance, we would invite alumni, businesses, and nonprofits to contribute one opportunity, such as a volunteer project, job shadowing, or a career conversation. We would also ask what help they need from students, so the partnerships benefit our community. As the pilot develops, student volunteers could share their experiences and invite classmates to join. We would report what we learn, explain changes made from feedback, and track participation. I hope students will see LCA Connect as something they can help shape and eventually support as alumni.
