The STEP College-Prep program doesn’t just help high school students get into college; it prepares them to be leaders––in college, and beyond. It teaches them the resilience and self-advocacy skills they need to manifest their career goals, and create the change they want to see in the world.
So, where are STEP alumni, now? We’ve rounded up 11 that are well on their way to achieving greatness.
Disclaimer: Check back regularly! We will continue to update this blog as more alumni stories roll in.
Maddie S.
University High School, Tucson (2017)
“I graduated with my Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing with a minor in Family Studies and Human Development from University of Arizona in 2021. I was Magna Cum Laude and received an award from the College of Nursing called the Mary F. Jeffries Achievement Award for academic excellence and pursuit of advanced graduate study. I have been hired as a cardiovascular ICU nurse at Banner University Main in Tucson.”
Bill De La Rosa
Pueblo High School (2012)
“I’ve spent the past eight years documenting the lived experiences of immigrant families along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Throughout this time, I’ve also worked for the Pima County Administrator’s Office, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Center for Law and Social Policy, and a member of the U.S. Congress.
Currently, I’m a doctoral candidate and Clarendon Scholar in Criminology at the University of Oxford’s Faculty of Law as well as a Visiting Scholar at the University of Arizona’s Binational Migration Institute. I’m also a Book Reviews Editor and Regional Contributor for Border Criminologies, an academic blog that aims to understand the global effects of immigration enforcement.
Prior to my doctoral studies, I received master’s degrees in Migration Studies and in Criminology and Criminal Justice as a Marshall Scholar at the University of Oxford. I also have a bachelor’s in Sociology and Latin American Studies from Bowdoin College, where I was named the 2016 National Male Hispanic Scholar of the Year, a Harry S. Truman Scholar, and a John Lewis Fellow. I plan to enroll at Yale Law School after completing my doctorate.”
Blue N.
Rincon High School (2013)
“I graduated from University of Arizona in 2017, and recently received my master's degree in forensic psychology from Arizona State University. This has always been a big goal of mine. I always said I would be more than happy just being the first person in my family with a bachelor's degree, but being able to take it a step further is something I'm incredibly proud of myself for. I always felt like I got my bachelor's for other people, but my master's? That was all for me!”
Kevin N.
Amphitheater High School (2014)
“I graduated from the University of Arizona in 2019. I currently work as an Electrical Engineer at Raytheon Technologies and am attending John Hopkins University to obtain my master's in Systems Engineering. I am a mentor for the Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) Program, where I help 20+ students in middle school with STEM projects, and volunteer at events including MESA Day and MESA Regionals.”
Samantha M.
North Canyon High School (2010)
“I graduated with my bachelor’s from Pitzer College in 2014, and with my Master’s and Ph.D. from UCLA in 2020. After working successfully in academia and education as a teaching fellow at UCLA, visiting professor at Pitzer College, then faculty member at Ransom Everglades School (a top-10 private school in the US), in the summer of 2021 I decided to leave my teaching position to start my own business as a private, remote tutor/mentor for adolescents and young adults. It was the best decision I could have made! I love running my own business and having the freedom to work from anywhere.”
Luis CV
Metro Tech High School (2019)
“I am a prospective Computer Science & Mathematics major at Bowdoin College, but I am aiming towards a Software Engineering degree. Recently, I secured a return offer as a Software Development Engineering Intern at GoDaddy for summer 2022! In addition to my engineering drive, I am also an advocate for agriculture and sustainability in the United States. I have high hopes for the development of a sustainable aquaponics system that generates an equitable market for fresh foods to all people.”
Mary N.
Amphitheater High School (2018)
“During my senior year at Bowdoin College, I was awarded the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship. The Thomas J. Watson Fellowship, or The Watson for short, gives imaginative and bold graduating college seniors in any discipline funds for a year to travel the globe and gather independent, international research on their topic of interest. On August 1, I will set out on a year-long life-changing adventure, traveling and learning in Rwanda, Tanzania, India, and the United Kingdom studying the role of women in community and caretaking.”
Read more about Mary’s Fellowship & Upcoming Travels
Jasmine C.
Metro Tech High School (2019)
“I graduate from Bowdoin College in 2023. I plan to take the LSAT this summer, and am applying to Columbia and NYU for fall of 2023.”
Erica R.
Hamilton High School (2009)
“I'm a First Lieutenant in the Marine Corps, an Osprey aircraft pilot, and a U.S. Naval Academy graduate. STEP’s training was huge for me during my years at the Academy. I was a platoon commander in my senior year – in charge of 40 midshipmen. I’m drawn to the hard stuff – that’s why I decided to become a pilot in the Marine Corps. It all came from that sense of achievement I had after I got back from my STEP expedition to Alaska.”
Alicia S.
University High School, Tucson (2019)
“I will graduate from Babson College in 2023 with a concentration in strategic management. Throughout my time at Babson, I've been exploring startups. I got involved with a Living-Learning Community at Babson called eTower, which houses a bunch of students running their own businesses or working on startups, which encouraged me to branch out from my initial venture idea and work at different startup companies. I began as an intern in my Freshman year in Operations at a growing startup, and quickly advanced to be an Operations Analyst and then was promoted to Strategic Project Manager and took a semester off to serve in that role, reporting directly to the President of the company.
After I returned to school, I got involved with another startup, this time in the jewelry industry, and became their Interim President, working with the founder & CEO on strategic planning and team building. I got to manage 6 department leads and reform processes like hiring, onboarding, operations, and meeting cadences.
Now, I'm bringing the skills that I learned in those jobs to more startups in a consultant capacity, running my own business called ALTernate Solutions. It's been amazing having the opportunity to study and experience business during my time in college, really honing in on what my strengths are and developing them. I am so grateful for my experiences in STEP which allowed me to take these risks in my career and educational journey that have helped me learn so much about myself and make an impact on the people and organizations around me.”
Read about Alicia’s journey from homelessness to college
Rubi D.
Desert Valley High School (2012)
“I graduated from Bowdoin University and am currently a second year medical student at St. George's University School of Medicine.”
Evangeline E.
University High School, Tucson (2018)
"I graduated from Pomona College with a major in Economics in 2022. I am currently a Teach for America member and plan to move to the Bay Area to teach Bilingual Elementary Education in June 2023. I have many people in my life to thank for my achievements thus far, but I would like to specially acknowledge my life-long friends and mentors in the STEP College-Prep Program. Without STEP, I would have never known about the wonders of Pomona, liberal arts colleges, or all that I could accomplish as a first-generation low-income Chicana from Tucson, Arizona. I could not have done it without this program."