Step Up to STEM

WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR SUMMER 2026.

Español

Using real-world subjects to challenge rising NC ninth- and 10th-graders

This interactive, interdisciplinary academic program uses exciting real-world subjects to challenge talented rising ninth- and 10th-graders across North Carolina and build their skills in STEM and communications. The program is free, with applications being open only to current eighth grade students who are residents of North Carolina. Students who are accepted into and complete the program as rising ninth graders (cohort 1 students) are then offered a spot to return for a second summer of programming as rising tenth graders (cohort 2 students).

Download the Summer 2026 Flyer Here Application Help Guide Application Help Video

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 2025 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 2025 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.

Step Up to STEM is made possible by generous financial support from the Anonymous Trust Foundation, the Barber Fund for Underrepresented Minorities for STEM Leadership, and the Burroughs Wellcome Fund Student STEM Enrichment Program (SSEP). 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 Foundation
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 for Underrepresented Minorities for STEM Leadership
The Barber Fund for Underrepresented Minorities for STEM Leadership 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.

Join Our Mailing List!

Key Dates for Summer 2026:

December 1, 2025: Application portal opens
January 8, 2026: Step Up to STEM at ECSU Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
January 15, 2026: Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
January 22, 2026: Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham Virtual Information Session (Registration is closed.)
February 5, 2026: Application portal closes
March 11, 2026: Acceptance decisions emailed
March 25, 2026: Deadline for acceptance contracts to be submitted
June 14-19, 2026: Cohort 2 (NCSSM-Durham)
July 5-10, 2026: Cohorts 1 and 2 (ECSU)
July 12-17, 2026: Cohort 1 (NCSSM-Durham)
July 19-24, 2026: Cohort 1 (UNC Pembroke)

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 Virtual Information Sessions:

Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions are free events, providing an overview of the program. Registration for all Step Up to STEM Virtual Information Sessions will open in November 2025.

Step Up to STEM at ECSU Virtual Information Session: January 8, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. (Registration is closed.)
Step Up to STEM at UNC Pembroke Virtual Information Session: January 15, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. (Registration is closed.)
Step Up to STEM at NCSSM-Durham Virtual Information Session: January 22, 2026 at 7:00 pm EST. (Registration is closed.)

Step Up to STEM Virtual Office Hours:

Step Up to STEM Virtual Office hours consist of 15-minute time slots where parents, students, and/or educators may speak with Step Up to STEM staff members via Zoom to ask any questions that they may have about the Step Up to STEM application process. Virtual office hours dates/times for this application season are as follows:

December 11, 2025: (4:30 pm – 6:30 pm)
January 29, 2026: (4:30 pm – 6:30 pm)

To sign up for a virtual office hour time slot, please click here. Please note that sign-ups are on a first come, first serve basis.