Etienne Exantus had heard a lot of good things about the High School Research Internships at the Boyce Thompson Institute, but wasn’t sure he’d get into the program. 

Then, through the Science and Technology Entry Program (STEP) at the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, he was able to speak directly with the internship organizer. Thanks to this conversation and an impressive application, he secured a summer internship.

“I never imagined myself as someone capable of doing scientific research,” said Exantus, a rising senior at Ithaca High School. “But the lab work has widened my idea of what’s possible for me to do.”

Exantus has spent the summer learning about tomato grafting and graft compatibility in the lab of Margaret Frank, Ph.D. ’14, assistant professor in the School of Integrative Plant Science in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Now, he is considering a doctoral degree as an option for his future.

Since 1986, STEP and its college-level counterpart, CSTEP, have been addressing the underrepresentation of marginalized students in science, technology, engineering and math and licensed professions through programs at more than 50 universities across New York. In Ithaca, STEP assistant director Ray Hage and program adviser Resana Malone work with around 125 students at Dewitt and Boynton middle schools, Lehman Alternative Community School and Ithaca High School.

The state-funded initiative supports Black, Hispanic, Latinx and Indigenous students as well as youth from limited-income households. Through program activities, they learn about the college-application process, explore career possibilities and meet diverse scientists and engineers.

“Seeing people of color in academia and high-level jobs is very empowering, especially at a young age,” said Ithaca High School senior Joshua Kwakye-Minott, who is studying the behaviors of seed corn maggots in the labs of Katja Poveda, associate professor of entomology (CALS) through the same program as Exantus. “Seeing someone who’s just like me makes it feel obtainable.”

STEP members can participate in as many program offerings as they want. Popular events include monthly STEP Saturdays, where participants try out careers through hands-on activities with local groups such as the Cornell Surgical Society or the Ithaca College physician assistants program.

Out-of-town college trips take students to academic institutions throughout New York state – and, recently, to Howard University in Washington, DC – to get a firsthand look at campus life.

For Stella Sapp-Dietrich, a rising senior and five-year STEP participant, these opportunities have helped smooth a path for the future. “It’s made the college admissions process seem much more manageable,” she said. This year Ithaca’s chapter of STEP had a 100% graduation rate, and almost all of the graduates will be attending a two- or four-year school this fall.

During free periods or at lunchtime, Hage and Malone advise students one-on-one and in small groups. By listening and taking an interest in students’ lives, they develop close and lasting relationships with mentees.

“Ray has definitely had a special impact on me,” Kwakye-Minott said. "I can talk to him about anything, and he’s always trying to find a way to open a door for me with anything I’m interested in.”

Exantus agrees – and is already encouraging his 13-year-old niece to join STEP when she is eligible. “People at STEP aren’t just doing their job; they care,” he said. “I think everybody, especially young kids of color, need to know that they have that kind of person backing them up. I joined STEP when my confidence was low, and it gave me the support and encouragement I needed to chase my dreams.”

STEP accepts students on a rolling basis. Find the application on the program webpage.

Olivia Hall is a freelance writer for the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement.