Programme
Mission Bit
Supporting underrepresented youth to access introductory computer science education
Widening access to AI and STEM learning opportunities in North Carolina
North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is a prestigious STEM specialist public high school. Alongside its main programme, the school offers a range of summer enrichment programs, distance and virtual learning opportunities through its Division of Extended Learning, aiming to broaden access to its resources across North Carolina. One part of this work is Step Up to STEM, a summer enrichment programme aiming to widen STEM access across the state, first delivered in 2013.
It is a free one-week residential summer programme which aims to develop enthusiasm and competence in STEM subjects for rising 9th and 10th graders. The programme prioritises outreach to students from the areas of North Carolina with the lowest post-secondary enrolment and highest economic distress. It currently runs at three sites across North Carolina and has served over 700 students across 79 counties to date. Among recent cohorts, 97% report improved competence in science and mathematics, and 89% report increased interest in STEM careers.
The Hg Foundation’s $250,000 grant over two years is supporting additional students to participate in Step Up to STEM, enabling the program to reach full capacity across all three current sites. Funding is also supporting the development of a new course for the program focused on AI and technology, drawing on the expertise of both NCSSM and Hg. As a private equity leader in AI transformation, Hg manages Europe’s largest software portfolio actively deploying AI at scale and can draw on a group of more than 100 AI experts within its value creation team. A portion of the grant funding is also strengthening outcomes tracking for the program, enabling program leaders to better understand its impact on long-term outcomes such as college enrolment or choice of major.
We are incredibly grateful to The Hg Foundation for this transformative investment in North Carolina’s future. Since 2013, Step Up to STEM has opened doors for hundreds of students, and this partnership allows us to fully realize our vision of reaching young minds in every corner of the state. By introducing an AI and technology curriculum alongside rigorous data tracking, we are ensuring our students are not just consumers of tomorrow’s technology, but the ethical creators and leaders of it.
As an alumnus, I have seen first-hand how NCSSM transforms what students believe is possible for themselves. Step Up to STEM carries that mission to the young people across North Carolina who have the least access to it, and adding AI to the curriculum ensures they are ready for the way technology is reshaping every career. The Hg Foundation backs programs that deliver measurable, lasting impact, and few do it as powerfully as this one. I am proud that they are making an investment alongside my personal gift to the program.
