Building STEPS Summer Experience Wrap-Up

Summer Experience-Remote and Remarkable They did it – and our volunteers made it happen! Our students completed their six-week Summer Experience with improved writing, literacy and math skills, STEM exposure, career exploration and professional development. Our volunteers' commitment to our students' college and career success made their days interesting, engaging and even interactive, no small feat when conducted remotely. Our students and the entire Building STEPS team are grateful for our volunteers' dedication, creativity and flexibility. Their work was integral to maximizing our students’ Summer Experience. For certain, our students are better equipped for their senior year of high school and first year of college.

MATH ENRICHMENT

Cindy Greenwood and her CWIT Scholars from University of Maryland Baltimore County Center for Women in Technology created and facilitated daily math enrichment. With a curriculum designed specifically for Building STEPS, students improved  fundamental math skills and are now prepared for grade level math. Special thanks to the CWIT Scholars for sharing their own personal experiences with college-level math.

LITERACY AND WRITING

Strengthening literacy skills prepared our rising seniors to start tackling their college application essay. With one-on-one help from their Writing Advisor, every student is heading into application season with a strong topic and draft essay. Our first-year college students remained focused on strategies for effective reading and analysis.

CAREER EXPLORATION

Following the advice “you can’t be what you can’t see”, volunteers in the fields of health care, engineering, computer science, technology, marketing, research and development, graphic design and more shared insights and firsthand accounts about their careers and related career paths. Through panel discussions and one-on-one meetings, our professionals shared invaluable information. This direct access to STEM professionals enables our students to set more intentional college and career goals.

MEDICAL WEEK

Radiology, pulmonology, speech pathology, occupational therapy and dentistry are medical specialties that until now were practically unknown to our students. Doctors, practitioners, and medical students shared the intricacies of their medical field, the education requirements and the benefits as they experience them. These conversations equip our students with the information to guide their college and career interests and goals.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Corporate partners provided students with professional guidance and tips for career success. Blue Plant IT professionals, Northrop Grumman talent acquisition specialists, JMT engineers and SciTech Student Learning Lab resarchers led a series of activities focused on career exploration and STEM professional development. Communication and corporate development consultants hosted sessions equipping students for the corporate world including resume tips, public speaking do’s and don’ts, and professional communication skills and strategies.      We could not do all of this without our volunteers…thank you!

Give Today!

Equipping our city's brightest students with the tools to propel them to college and career success.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

www.buildingsteps.org