Step Up to STEM

Applications for Summer 2027 will open December 1, 2026.

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Using real-world subjects to challenge NC students

Step Up to STEM is a free, interactive, interdisciplinary program designed to challenge talented North Carolina students using exciting real-world subjects.

Summer Component: A summer residential program for rising 9th and 10th graders focused on STEM and communications.
Academic Year Component: Virtual enrichment workshops during the school year to help students continue building their skills.
Eligibility: Applications are only open to current North Carolina 8th graders. Accepted students participate as rising 9th graders (Cohort 1) and are offered a spot to return as rising 10th graders (Cohort 2).

Download the Summer 2027 Flyer Here Application Help Guide Application Help Video

Step Up to STEM Infographic

Click here to access a pdf version of the Step Up to STEM Infographic.

Is Step Up to STEM the Right Fit for Your Student?

Step Up to STEM delivers hands-on learning and builds foundational skills in STEM and communications for students eager to explore these disciplines.

To help determine whether this program aligns with your student’s educational needs, please consider the following:

Program Scope and Target Audience: Step Up to STEM provides an introductory, foundational experience. It is ideally suited for students eager to explore core STEM concepts, collaborate on projects, and build confidence in an encouraging and supportive environment.
Prior Experience: The curriculum is paced for fundamental skill development and interactive exploration. Students who are already extensively involved in advanced STEM coursework, competitive academic teams, or specialized summer enrichment will find the material redundant or insufficiently challenging. We strongly encourage these families to explore higher-level enrichment options that better match their student’s experience level.
Program Alignment and NCSSM Admissions: Step Up to STEM offers introductory STEM exposure to students across North Carolina. It does not serve as a pipeline, prerequisite, or guarantee for future enrollment at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM). While participation in the program reflects a student’s interest in STEM, it does not provide a competitive advantage in future NCSSM admissions decisions. For details on standard entry into the school, please visit the NCSSM Admissions Page.

Step Up to STEM at ECSU:

Note: Students must live in one of the following North Carolina counties in order to be eligible to attend Step Up to STEM at ECSU: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Greene, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, and Washington.

To view the Summer 2026 program schedule, click here to view the Step Up to STEM at ECSU website.

Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham:

Note: Students must live in one of the following North Carolina counties in order to be eligible to attend Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham: Alamance, Alexander, Alleghany, Anson, Ashe, Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cabarrus, Caldwell, Caswell, Catawba, Chatham, Cherokee, Clay, Cleveland, Davidson, Davie, Durham, Forsyth, Franklin, Gaston, Graham, Granville, Guilford, Haywood, Henderson, Iredell, Jackson, Johnston, Lee, Lincoln, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mecklenburg, Mitchell, Montgomery, Moore, Orange, Person, Polk, Randolph, Rockingham, Rowan, Rutherford, Stanly, Stokes, Surry, Swain, Transylvania, Union, Vance, Wake, Warren, Watauga, Wilkes, Yadkin, and Yancey.

To view the Summer 2026 program schedule, click here to view the Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham website.

Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke:

Note: Students must live in one of the following North Carolina counties to be eligible to attend Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke: Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, Duplin, Harnett, Hoke, Jones, Lenoir, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender, Richmond, Robeson, Sampson, Scotland, Wayne, and Wilson.

To view the Summer 2026 program schedule, click here to view the Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke website.

Step Up to STEM is made possible by generous financial support from the Anonymous Trust, the Barber Fund, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP), the Hg Foundation, and an anonymous donor. The program started through the generous financial support of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund, the North Carolina GlaxoSmithKline Foundation, Bayer CropScience, and Duke Energy Foundation.

Anonymous Trust
The Anonymous Trust’s mandate is to serve rural and underserved communities in Eastern North Carolina. In 2024, the Anonymous Trust awarded NCSSM a grant to be used in part to expand Step Up to STEM to the UNC Pembroke campus.

Barber Fund
The Barber Fund supports NCSSM programs for underrepresented middle and high school students who are pursuing STEM-related fields. This includes expansion of support of Step Up to STEM to other campuses and the Summer Leadership and Research Program.

Burroughs Wellcome Fund Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP)
The Student STEM Enrichment Program provides funding to organizations across North Carolina that aim to engage students in hands-on, informal STEM education experiences outside the classroom. Since 1996, the Burroughs Wellcome Fund has been committed to fostering STEM education and it is through the SSEP grants that the Burroughs Wellcome Fund continues to provide STEM opportunities to students through after-school programs, summer camps, and community initiatives.

Hg Foundation
The Hg Foundation, a grant-giving charity focused on improving tech education and skills, supports the delivery and development of Step Up to STEM, a summer enrichment program aiming to widen STEM access across the state.

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Key Dates for Summer 2027:

December 1, 2026: Application portal opens
December 3, 2026: Step Up to STEM Application Workshop
January 7, 2027: Step Up to STEM @ ECSU Information Session
January 14, 2027: Step Up to STEM @ NCSSM-Durham Information Session
January 21, 2027: Step Up to STEM @ UNCP Information Session
February 3, 2027: Application portal closes
March 11, 2027: Acceptance decisions emailed
March 25, 2027: Deadline for acceptance contracts to be submitted
June 13-18, 2027: Step Up to STEM @ NCSSM-Durham (Cohort 2)
June 27-July 2, 2027: Step Up to STEM @ ECSU (Cohorts 1 and 2)
July 11-16, 2027: Step Up to STEM @ UNCP (Cohorts 1 and 2)
July 18-23, 2027: Step Up to STEM @ NCSSM-Durham (Cohort 1)

Please note: Cohort 1 is ONLY for students applying to the program as current eighth graders. Cohort 2 is ONLY for students who participated the previous year as Cohort 1 students.

Step Up to STEM Application Workshop

Join us for a virtual workshop designed to help you master the Step Up to STEM application process.

Here is what we will cover:

Portal Walkthrough: Step-by-step guidance for navigating the online application portal smoothly
Recommender Etiquette: Practical advice on how to approach and follow-through with your recommenders.
Family Q&A: Dedicated time for you and your family to ask questions and get real-time answers.

Workshop Date: Thursday, December 3, 2026
Registration Dates: November 2, 2026 – December 2, 2026 (Closes at 5:00 pm). Click here to register to attend.
Location: Online via Zoom (Access links will be emailed the morning of the event to all registered families).

Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions

Join us to learn more about Step Up to STEM! These free virtual sessions will cover an overview of the program, eligibility requirements, the application process, and the summer 2027 timeline. Each session will also include a live Q&A to answer your questions.

Session Dates and Times:

Thursday, January 7, 2027 (7:00 pm – 8:00 pm): Step Up to STEM at ECSU Virtual Information Session. Click here to register to attend.
Thursday, January 14, 2027 (7:00 pm – 8:00 pm): Step Up to STEM at NCSSM- Durham Virtual Information Session. Click here to register to attend.
Thursday, January 21, 2027 (7:00 pm – 8:00 pm): Step Up to STEM at UNCP Virtual Information Session. Click here to register to attend.

Registration Details:
These sessions are free and held via Zoom. Registration opens on November 2, 2026 and closes at 5:00 pm ET the day before each event. Zoom access links will be emailed to all registered families on the morning of the session.