SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY ENRICHMENT PROGRAM (STEP)
Applications will be available April 11th, 2025 by pick up ONLY
1400 Barnwell St Office Location
9:00a.m.-4:30p.m. Monday-Friday
DEADLINE FOR ALL APPLICATIONS
AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS IS MAY 16, 2025
NO COPIES OF THE APPLICATION WILL BE ACCEPTED.
ONLY THE ORIGINAL APPLICATION CAN BE SUBMITTED
PLEASE MAKE SURE APPLICATION IS COMPLETED IN ITS ENTIRETY.
INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION.
If you're interested in enrolling your child, applications are still being accepted for sponsors willing to contribute $350 to cover their participation, please give us a call at 803-799-8150.
The Columbia Urban League provides summer work experience, primarily for youth between the ages of 14 and 19, through the Science Technology Enrichment Program (STEP). Since 1984, employment has proven to be an effective strategy for helping youth to become productive members of society.
Employment reduces disruptive behavior and school dropout rates that often lead to juvenile delinquency and gang involvement. We redirected this program to incorporate Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) sectors. In today’s technological work environment, STEM has become a pathway for livable income careers.
To be eligible to participate in the program, interested youth must complete a STEP application. The application requires personal information, prior work experience information, a personal reflection stating the applicant’s career interest, why he/she would like to work this summer, and a photocopy of formal identification.
For more information, contact jscreen@culsc.org.
PROGRAM ORGANIZATION
Participants must participate in orientation before receiving a job assignment, and participants must be in professional business attire.
Parents are required to attend orientation sessions.
Placements usually last for two weeks.
Participants work twenty hours per week.
Participants earn a $300 stipend upon completion of a two-week work assignment and receipt of required documentation.
OBJECTIVES
To provide career shadowing to introduce participants to real-life work experience.
To mentor participants to increase their knowledge of business etiquette and work ethics.
To offer structured environments to help build participants’ self-esteem.
To encourage networking opportunities for exposure to different career fields.
If accepted to participate in the program, the student and his/her parent (guardian) must attend a mandatory job-skills training/orientation before receiving a job assignment. After successful completion of two 20-hour workweeks, the participant will receive a $300.00 stipend and a certificate of completion.
*The tentative start date for STEP placements is Monday, June 19, and ends on Friday, August 4, in two-week cycles. Please note that this date is subject to change.*
**Although we desire to serve all eligible applicants, the number is students served by this program is contingent upon the amount of funding we receive. **