Alumni events

2026 Alumni vs. Students Step Challenge

January 5 - February 15, 2026

This year, we have stepped up our game! We are using StepUp, a free app to manage the challenge. We listened to the numerous comments from our alumni and students about wanting a simpler way to track your steps and sync with your devices. After scouring reviews from others who have used this app for similar challenges, we decided to give it a try. We hope this is a welcome surprise! Please note, you must download the free StepUp app to participate in the 2026 Step Challenge.

Steps to Join the Step Challenge

Step 1: Download the StepUp App - https://join.thestepupapp.com/Sv93u7 
Step 2: Join the SIU SOM Alumni vs. Students Group by clicking this link 
Step 3: Change your profile name to include your Class Year (this is a necessary step for us to identify you)
Go to Settings (gear symbol in top corner) > “Edit/Update Profile” > Touch your last name and add “Class of xxxx” > “Update Name” (Your name will then show up as ex. John Smith Class of 2000)
Step 4: Sync your wearable device
Go to Settings (gear symbol in top corner) > “Sync with Wearables” > Select your device from the list of wearable devices.

Step Challenge Dates
The 2026 Step Challenge will run for 6 weeks. Each week will start on Monday and end on Sunday. 
Week 1: Monday, Jan. 5 – Sunday, Jan. 11
Week 2: Monday, Jan. 12 – Sunday, Jan. 18
Week 3: Monday, Jan. 19 – Sunday, Jan. 25
Week 4: Monday, Jan. 26 – Sunday, Feb. 1
Week 5: Monday, Feb. 2 – Sunday, Feb. 8
Week 6: Monday, Feb. 9 – Sunday, Feb. 15

Prizes
Each week, the top 3 alumni and the top 3 students will be announced via email and eligible for prizes. At the end of the challenge, the overall top 3 alumni and top 3 students will be crowned winners, as well as announcing the group with the most steps (alumni or students).  We will also award random prizes throughout the challenge for those who hit over 10k steps on average, as well as at the end of the challenge for those who stayed consistent with their participation.  Even if you are not winning the step count each week, your steps still count towards beating the students!

Troubleshooting
Please go to the StepUp webpage for a full list of troubleshooting questions and answers. Go to the FAQ section for detailed help. 
Still have questions? Please reach out to us and we’ll do our best to help!

Privacy
[Directly from the StepUp website] StepUp is GDPR & CCPA compliant and adheres to the latest industry-standard security and privacy practices to ensure your data is safe and handled responsibly.
We do NOT share or sell any of your personal or steps activity data with anyone.
You can delete your account and data immediately from StepUp app > Settings > Help & feedback > Delete account.
We use Google's AdMob ad network to display personalized ads with your consent, which is optional. StepUp is used at companies (Amazon, BMW, Google, Meta), schools (Yale, Stanford, Rossall), governments (in US, UK, NZ, UAE), communities, gyms, hospitals, conferences, and other organizations all over the world.
See our privacy policy for more information.