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The Nonprofit Show
From Poverty to Possibility: How STEP Transforms First-Gen Students
Dr. Tracy Baynes—Founder and CEO of the Student Expedition Program (STEP)—shares how a wilderness leadership initiative evolved into a powerful, multi-year college access program transforming lives.
STEP focuses on first-generation, low-income students in large public high schools, many of whom might otherwise never be encouraged to pursue higher education. Through a personalized approach—monthly workshops, advising, and family engagement—STEP prepares students academically, emotionally, and practically to not just attend college, but to thrive in it.
Dr. Baynes explains how her early career working aboard ships and in outdoor education sparked an uncomfortable realization: “I was only working with wealthy students. And I thought, where is everybody else?” This question became the genesis of STEP.
Over time, the program matured from summer expeditions to a fully integrated college prep curriculum starting in students' sophomore year. The turning point? A high-achieving student inspired by Dr. Baynes to apply to Smith College—without ever having heard of it before. But her transcript lacked the rigor. “She had straight A’s throughout high school and not a single educator had said, ‘You should take another course,’” Dr. Baynes recalls. That gap in guidance pushed STEP to grow.
The conversation unpacks the hidden roadblocks facing low-income students: lack of college counseling, financial aid complexity, and cultural barriers. Dr. Baynes’ solution? Equip both students and families with knowledge, tools, and confidence. “Our goal is to become obsolete in your life,” she says. “We want you to have the tools to meet the challenges ahead.”
Today, 96% of STEP graduates are enrolled in or have completed college. The secret sauce? Relational trust, rigorous expectations, and strategic partnerships with schools that meet 100% of students’ financial need.
If you believe in generational change through education, this episode will challenge, inspire, and empower you to see possibility where others see limitation.
#FirstGenSuccess #CollegeAccessForAll #BreakTheCycle
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