Soroptimist of Stuart

S.T.E.P.S.
Soroptimist Training and Education Program for Scholarships is one of the signature programs of Soroptimist International of Stuart designed to provide high school students with the skills and opportunities necessary to prepare for the scholarship and college application process and for job interviews. In the STEPS program, Soroptimists serve as mentors, present workshops, award scholarships, help prepare Pathfinder Scholarship nominees and provide guidance for the Congressional Award participants.

• Pathfinder Preparation – Seniors from Martin County schools compete each year to receive the prestigious Pathfinder Scholarships. Through work shops and mock interviews, the STEPS volunteers assist Martin County’s Pathfinder nominees to be more competitive in vying for these scholarships by increasing the nominees’ self confidence and quality of preparation.
• Scholarships – STEPS presents the Soroptimist Youth Service Award each spring to selected seniors graduating from Martin high schools and other alternative educational schools. Applications are accepted in the winter and submitted to a panel of judges for review. The scholarships are awarded utilizing various criteria including outstanding service in the home, school and/or community; responsibility and dependability; a sense of purpose in pursuit of his/her goals; and a minimum 2.5 grade point average.
• Congressional Awards – STEPS conducts workshops annually to assist students to successfully apply to become a Congressional Award nominee, and to learn the qualifications necessary to complete the requirements for each of the three levels of Congressional Awards.

Also, STEPS Soroptimists coach students on appropriate interview attire for the above programs, and work collaboratively through the “Dressing For Your Future” program with the Martin County Schools and 4C’s, a local 501(3) organization, to assist identified students to obtain clothing at no cost to the student.