Being young leaders through academic achievement.

Bring Up Grades, or BUG is a program designed to provide recognition to students who raise their grades to an acceptable range, and maintain or continue to raise them from one grading period to the next. Recognition includes being placed on the school's BUG Honor Roll; a pizza, ice cream, or other food-themed party; and presentation of certificates, pins, and other giveaways.

A sponsoring club helps support the BUG program at the school. The club plans BUG recognition events, provides awards, and establishes partnerships with local community businesses to secure support for the program. Sponsoring businesses have the option of providing coupons, giveaways, or food for BUG parties.

The teacher establishes a base line grade for each student during the first grading period. Students are honored each grading period thereafter if they maintain their grades and raise one grade.

A SUPER BUG also is honored as part of this program. A SUPER BUG is a student who served as a mentor assisting others in achieving their goals of bringing up one grade.

Though this program was created for the traditional A, B, C grading system, it can be adapted to work with any type of grading system. Example: Increasing a mark from U-Unsatisfactory, to N-Needs Improvement, or raising a mark from N-Needs Improvement, to S-Satisfactory would qualify a student for recognition.

The program was created for use in a school setting, but a community center or agency supporting youth could use this program to encourage academic achievement. The designated program coordinator would recognize participants when report card grades are shared and it is noted that a grade has been raised.