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'Students Don’t Care How Much You Know Until They Know How Much You Care’ – Ruben Saenz, TRIO Director
“Honestly, I couldn’t have done it without them.”
Those are the heartfelt words of Michelle Campuzano, who became part of the TRIO Step Program first year in 2005-2006. She graduated last May.
Today, she is an ASU student majoring in business – with an emphasis on non-profits, youth administration, and social welfare.
“I cannot even begin to tell you how much Step helped me,” she says today. “They were basically my therapy
throughout the process of transferring to ASU.”
The staff provided the leads for the two scholarships that Michelle received --and also provided contacts at ASU.
“It’s a big university where knowing anyone can seem impossible,” she said.
Credit for such ongoing success goes to the hard-working TRIO Step Program staff: Ruben Saenz, Director; Stuart Levy, Learning Associate (Tutor); Eva Martinez, Student Services Specialist (Academic Advisor); Sianna Kent, TRIO Secretary; and April Johnson, College Work Study.
The program is funded by the Federal Department of Education TRIO Programs to serve first-generation and low-income college students. “Our goal at SMCC is to continue making a difference to those who need guidance and direction in achieving their academic dreams. TRIO is doing it one student at a time,” Ruben says.
The first year of the TRIO Step Program began in September, 2005 and all of the staff was hired by the following March. As of August 2006, the program had more than 160 students. In all, 26 students have graduated -- 24 transferred to ASU, and two transferred to NAU.
The program must maintain 160 students at all times and the staff is currently filling the 26 vacancies left by graduates. “The demand is high and we will likely go over the one-sixty mark,” according to the director.
Perhaps the program’s greatest draw is the academic advising and math tutoring.
“The fact that we spend time teaching the student how to advocate for themselves and learn the transfer process has really enabled our students to succeed at the next level,” Ruben says.
“ The one-on-one time is critical because students feel less intimidated to ask questions or seek out assistance. Students don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”
From 10 am to 2 pm each weekday, the Step conference room is filled with students who require math tutoring. Students have so connected with Learning Associate Stuart Levy that, in Spring 2007, he will teach a Math 120 class just for Step participants. “Our students will have the advantage of having him as an instructor and a tutor. Hopefully, this will increase our student learning outcomes and persistency rates,” Ruben adds.
The Step staff is known for cheering on their students, thus increasing students’ self-confidence and motivation to complete degrees. Students are exposed to resources at four-year institutions and are made aware of the transfer process.
Also through the program, students become organized and they learn time and money management, study skills and take advantage of note-taking workshops.
Step students have participated in tours to the Heard and Pueblo Grande Museum, George Washington Carver Cultural Center and the CBS-5 News Station. Finally, the students have volunteered numerous hours with the St. Mary’s Community Food bank. “Overall, our students become well-rounded individuals and develop into productive citizens of our community,” the director notes.
Stephanie Coronado, another Step participant and SMCC graduate, is now a sociology major at ASU. She recently wrote to the STEP staff: “I have received the Maroon and Gold Scholarship from ASU. Without all the help STEP offered I would not be as prepared as I am now. The program made the transition so easy. I am now able to fund my education because of Step and all the information I received.”