Quick Facts Building Science Technology and Education Partnerships Inc. t/a Building STEPS is a not for profit organization that exposes bright, underserved high school students to science and technology-based careers, and helps them excel in these fields where minorities are overwhelmingly underrepresented. The multi-year program, supplementing each student’s classroom learning, includes seminars, a summer internship, college counseling and alumni services. More than 90% of Building STEPS students have advanced to college, almost all of whom are the first to do so in their family. Building STEPS partners with Digital Harbor, W.E.B. Dubois, Paul Lawrence Dunbar, Forest Park, and Patterson high schools, helping a total of 60 juniors, 60 seniors and more than 100 alumni each year The typical Building STEPS student lives in a single or no-parent household; qualifies for free or reduced lunch; and works a part-time job, often to help pay for household expenses Almost all Building STEPS students are the first in their family to graduate from college Since 2001, more than 150 students have graduated from Building STEPS’ academic and professional development program Building STEPS students have been accepted at 62 colleges and universities Building STEPS students have earned more than $3 million in academic scholarship offers 94% of Building STEPS’ program graduates have advanced to college 85% of Building STEPS college students graduate from college in six years or less Over two-thirds of Building STEPS’ college graduates have earned STEM degrees Several Building STEPS graduates have already earned master’s’ degrees, while many others are enrolled in graduate programs, including medical school Many Building STEPS graduates have begun their professional careers, working at places such as McCormick & Company, Baxter Healthcare and PricewaterhouseCoopers