“STEP made me gain a new understanding of responsibility as a college student,” Abshir said. “I’ve learned to maintain a level of commitment to all of my activities that I’m proud of. And being a role model for younger students pushes me to organize my priorities and helps me grow my own abilities.”
“STEP has also reinforced my desire to make a difference, either in policies related to healthcare or in practice as a physician or physician assistant, providing quality, accessible care.”
Maya Whalen-Kipp ’16 can relate.
She first became a STEP mentor in 2013 and has led a number of STEP workshops on environmental science, graphic design and chemistry over the years. At Union, she studied biology and visual arts. Today, she’s an ORISE Science Technology & Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy, where she works on marine renewables.