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Frequently asked questions
General1
The Elite Striders is a Lake County, Illinois constructed youth organization promoting education, character building, discipline, and performing arts. It is open to drillers (7-19) and drummers (10-older). The Elite Striders is an organization that is dedicated to supporting the lives of the children in the community. The structure of the program is used as an intervention/prevention method for keep the children in Northern Lake County engaged positively in everyday activities. The goals of the Elite Striders is to increase participation in school, self-improvement, self-esteem, physical health, leadership, and moral sense for development and growth. We would like to decrease negative and risky behaviors such as (disrespect, withdrawal, bullying, depression, drug and alcohol abuse, sexual activity, and police involvement).
In January 2014, the Elite Striders Youth Organization (Drill Team & Drum Corp) was created. The name Elite was chosen to help the members recognize how great they could become. The ultimate goal of the program is simply to make these group of young people great leaders and role models. It was important to me to introduce them to mentorship, moral responsibility, leadership, civic ship, volunteerism, and then the performing arts. The program hosts drillers and drummers from ages 7-19 from the upper Lake County area.
The program was founded to keep the drill team circuit alive in Lake County, Illinois. The late great Chief Hamilton introduced the circuit in the 1960’s, since then there have been multiple drill teams that were inspired, however are no longer in existence. My vision for the Elite Striders is to keep the young people positively engaged in a program that develops civic leaders, volunteerism, accountability, academics, moral values, physical fitness, and performing arts. “Making these young people greater than before.” The program travels a lot during the summer, with multiple parades, performances, team outings/events, and volunteer services.
Under the direction of Sameia Charity, The Elite Striders has won the World's championships on August 9, 2023, in Baltimore, Maryland. In 2019, The Elite Striders won 1st in the Senior Drill Division, 1st in the Junior Division, and Best Drumline in Dianna Williams "Buck or Die" from the hit television show “Bring It" among many other awards.
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