Eastern will step it up from June 14 to August 8 by encouraging employees to increase their physical activity.

Julie Benedict, training and development specialist in human resources, said last year was the beginning of the EIU Steps It Up program.

The program started as a project for intern Pauline Matthey and graduate assistant Kristen De Vito.

Benedict said Matthey and De Vito created, marketed and maintained the challenge.

“The beauty of the challenge is that all your steps throughout the day are counted whether you are an avid walker or one that just wants to increase their physical activity,” she said.

Benedict said the program last year included approximately 120 people who walked a total of 22,907,114 steps, which is equal to 11,454 miles.

“Employees will use a pedometer to keep track of steps, but unlike last year, the program will count biking as well as walking,” she said.

The Center for Academic Technology Support established a website for the program, which keeps track of individual points as well as team points.

Benedict said program officials will tally up all totals submitted and determine the individual who walked the most steps as well as the team that collectively walked the most steps.

Last years winner was Sandy Bingham-Porter who works for Information Technology Services. She had the most steps, which added up to 897,000.

Lionel Sanders, construction project coordinator of Facilities Planning and Management, came in second with 555,361 steps.

Benedict said the challenge encourages employees to take the stairs instead of the elevator, park further away from the building and walk during breaks.

Linda Ghent, economics professor, said she wants to walk between 10,000 and 12,000 steps a day.

“If I don’t reach my goal of 10,000 steps per day, I will start parking further from my building and making a point to walk more at night,” she said.

Ryan Siegel, campus energy and sustainability coordinator, said his goal for the competition is to be one of the top 10 walkers.

Siegel said he is on a team from his department.

He said he was encouraged to participate by co-workers who participated in the program last year.

“This year there are multiple facility teams, so it will increase the competition within the department,” he said.

Employees must register by the first day of the challenge, June 14. Employees can sign up individually or with teams of five.

More information can be found at http://www.eiu.edu/~humanres/eiusteps.php.

Kristin Jording can be reached at 581-7942 or at kejording@eiu.edu.