Expeditions to degrees: How STEP is elevating Arizona students in education
- Jul 9
- 3 min read
By Jude McGee
Student Expedition Program (STEP) is an Arizona-based nonprofit that works with high school students from low-income backgrounds to build their knowledge and skills to get into and graduate from a four-year university. Since the organization’s founding in 2004, 96% of STEP participants have successfully transitioned to college or obtained a degree.
Starting in the sophomore year of high school, STEP works with students who have been admitted through a rigorous application process, which includes six essays. Students may qualify for the program if they have a GPA at or above 3.6, are enrolled in honors classes, and are first-generation college students. The organization conducts outreach by visiting schools in Phoenix and Tucson to present the program to sophomores.
“We set the bar high because we know our students are capable of achieving incredible outcomes,” said Tracy Baynes, CEO and founder of STEP. “When they graduate from STEP, our scholars have built the perseverance and self-advocacy skills to thrive in college and beyond.”
Baynes started the organization in 2004, upon seeing an income gap in higher education while teaching semesters at sea. Baynes’s background is in oceanography, and during that time, she was also teaching for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS). She noted the transformative nature of expedition-based education and became determined to make it available for low-income youth. That year, STEP brought nine students to Alaska for a three-week sea kayaking trip, teaching leadership and adaptability in the face of the unknown. The annual Alaska trip was the primary focus of STEP until 2011, when it expanded to include college prep.
The annual Alaska trip, achieved through a partnership between STEP and NOLS, has become a critical component of the program. “You couldn’t get more different from Tucson or Phoenix,” Baynes said. “We want the rug to be pulled from under them. By the third week, they all become experts.” With qualified instructors, STEP students learn a variety of skills during their time in the Alaskan wilderness, the summer after their junior year.
Katie Carmer, director of development for STEP, said, “These students face new and uncomfortable situations with the transition to college. STEP helps students build an armor of self-confidence and manage imposter syndrome.”
STEP uses a three-pronged approach to prepare students for college. At the beginning of their time with the program, students address mental health and learn about self-care during their academic journeys. From there, STEP provides support with advanced classes, which they are required to take. Then, after completing the wilderness expedition, students receive assistance with college applications, interviews, and navigating financial aid. The entire program, including the Alaska trip, is free to students and their families. There are 116 students in the class of 2026, the organization’s largest to date. These students received 431 acceptance letters from 102 schools, and they’ve chosen to attend 33 of them, including Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, MIT, NYU, Yale, and more.
STEP alumni go on to some of the best colleges in the country, including Ivy League schools. Anysa Medrano, a member of STEP’s class of 2026, said: “When I opened my acceptance letter, I was in absolute shock. In that moment, it felt like more than just good news; it felt like a generational breakthrough, something bigger than myself. I was overwhelmed with joy and pride, knowing this moment represented not only my hard work, but a new beginning for my family. STEP is not just a program, but a family that has provided me with unwavering support and unmatched resources over the past three years. As a first-generation student, college always felt stressful and uncertain, but STEP helped me to truly believe that I can do hard things and that I belong on a college campus.” Medrano will be attending Princeton University in the fall.
For more information about STEP, visit https://www.stepexpedition.org/
Image via STEP