Gregory Paul Founder & Program Director Student StepUp Scholarship Fund
Student StepUp seeks to explore how its youth development, workforce readiness, mentoring, and transition-to-adulthood initiatives can complement and strengthen existing ACS services for youth in foster care.
Our goal is to create sustainable pathways that help young people build supportive relationships, develop workforce and leadership skills, gain meaningful experiences, and successfully transition into adulthood.
Student StepUp Scholarship Fund was created to help young people access opportunities that expand educational attainment, career readiness, leadership development, and long-term life outcomes.
We believe youth should not be defined by barriers, adversity, or circumstances beyond their control. Instead, they should be recognized for their strengths, talents, aspirations, and potential.
Student StepUp creates opportunities that connect young people to:
We combine engagement, relationships, real-world experiences, and career planning to help young people develop confidence and successfully navigate the transition into adulthood.
For many young people, adulthood is supported by family networks, mentors, professional connections, and opportunities to explore careers before making major life decisions.
Youth in foster care often face additional challenges, including:
Without intentional support, many youth enter adulthood without the relationships, experiences, and resources necessary to achieve their goals.
We focus on providing continuity, opportunity, workforce exposure, mentoring, and structured pathways that help young people prepare for long-term success.
Student StepUp believes every youth deserves:
Positive adults, mentors, peers, and professionals who provide encouragement and guidance.
Opportunities to discover careers, industries, educational pathways, and experiences they may never have previously encountered.
Access to programs, projects, internships, leadership experiences, and workforce development activities.
Hands-on learning that allows youth to apply knowledge, build skills, and develop confidence.
The ability to move into employment, postsecondary education, training, entrepreneurship, or community leadership with a clear plan and support system.
Student StepUp operates through three interconnected curricula initiatives designed to support youth engagement, workforce readiness, leadership development, and transition planning.
Leadership development, entrepreneurship, workforce preparation, civic engagement, and work-based learning.
Youth engagement through technology, gaming, sports culture, mentoring, leadership development, and positive youth development.
Career navigation, workforce readiness, portfolio development, career planning, and transition support.
Regardless of where youth enter the ecosystem, every pathway is designed to move them toward:
Student StepUp combines four essential components often missing from traditional programming.
Youth discover industries, occupations, educational requirements, and emerging career opportunities.
Participants gain hands-on experience while earning stipends and developing workplace competencies.
Near-peer mentors, professionals, and community leaders help youth navigate personal and professional growth.
Experiences are translated into actionable plans that connect youth to employment, college, training programs, and other opportunities.
Young people leave with documented skills, meaningful experiences, professional relationships, and a clearer vision for their future.
Youth Chambers of Commerce serves as Student StepUp's workforce and leadership development platform.
Participants engage in structured cohorts that provide opportunities to:
Rather than relying exclusively on classroom instruction, youth work on projects that reflect real workplace and community challenges.
This approach increases engagement while helping participants build practical skills and confidence.
Many youth programs provide activities.
Youth Chambers provides a pathway.
Discover interests, strengths, and potential career fields.
Build relationships with mentors, employers, educators, and community leaders.
Gain workforce, leadership, communication, and project-management skills.
Participate in meaningful projects and work-based learning experiences.
Convert experiences into employment opportunities, educational pathways, and career plans.
To prepare youth not simply to participate—but to successfully navigate adulthood.
Student StepUp believes youth learn best when they are trusted with meaningful responsibilities.
Participants may contribute to projects involving:
Youth gain experience they can describe on resumes, discuss in interviews, and leverage when pursuing employment or educational opportunities.
One of the strongest predictors of positive youth outcomes is the presence of supportive adult relationships.
Student StepUp intentionally creates opportunities for youth to connect with:
Youth receive:
For youth in foster care, these relationships can provide continuity, consistency, and encouragement during important life transitions.
Game Changers was developed to connect youth to learning and personal growth through activities they already enjoy.
The program uses:
as entry points for deeper engagement.
When youth begin with interests they enjoy, they are more likely to remain engaged long enough to develop relationships, skills, and long-term goals.
The NFL Fantasy League serves as more than an entertainment activity.
It creates opportunities for youth to develop:
Analyzing information and making informed decisions.
Understanding statistics, trends, and performance metrics.
Managing responsibilities and commitments.
Working with peers and discussing strategies.
Taking initiative and supporting others.
Regular engagement creates natural opportunities for discussions about:
Many young people do not realize that their interests can become careers.
Game Changers helps participants explore opportunities in:
Transform curiosity into exploration.
Transform exploration into planning.
Transform planning into action.
CareerFocus Institute serves as the workforce readiness and transition-planning platform supporting Student StepUp programs.
Its purpose is to ensure youth leave with documented evidence of growth and achievement.
Participants receive support to:
Understanding strengths, interests, values, and aspirations.
Documenting skills, experiences, and accomplishments.
Identifying educational, workforce, and career goals.
Creating an actionable transition plan.
Youth leave with:
Youth are introduced to opportunities and complete intake activities.
Strengths, interests, and goals are identified.
Youth participate in Youth Chambers and Game Changers experiences.
Workforce, leadership, and life skills are strengthened.
Youth engage in projects, work experiences, and career exploration activities.
Experiences are converted into portfolios and career assets.
Youth connect to employment, education, training, and leadership opportunities.
Student StepUp can help strengthen efforts focused on:
Student StepUp can provide continuity and connection even when youth experience placement changes or educational transitions.
Student StepUp works best when connected to a network of partners.
Youth referrals and strategic collaboration.
Case planning coordination and youth support.
Near-peer mentoring and educational pathways.
Career exposure, workforce experiences, and networking.
Projects, resources, and service opportunities.
Long-term encouragement and relationship building.
Together, these partners create a stronger support system for young people.
Student StepUp tracks both participation and progress.
Student StepUp is interested in exploring opportunities to complement existing ACS services through:
Connecting youth to leadership and workforce development opportunities.
Launching targeted programs for transition-age youth.
Expanding exposure to careers and industries.
Providing structured skill development and work experiences.
Increasing access to trusted adult relationships.
Supporting successful movement into adulthood.
Helping young people successfully transition from foster care to adulthood with confidence, skills, relationships, and opportunities.
Student StepUp is committed to helping young people discover their strengths, pursue meaningful opportunities, and build successful futures.
Gregory Paul (GP) Founder & Program Director
Student StepUp Scholarship Fund
"Helping young people move from potential to possibility, and from possibility to success."
Student StepUp