The Carolina Student Transfer Excellence Program, or C-STEP, housed in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, seeks to admit, identify, enroll and graduate high-achieving, low- to moderate-income students transferring to Carolina from partner community colleges. In the spring of 2011, Fayetteville Technical Community College partnered with UNCChapel Hill and established this premier program on its campus. In my time as an advisor for this program, I have encountered many inspiring, intelligent and dedicated students.

One such student is Saru Rayamajhi. Currently a nursing major at UNC-Chapel Hill, Rayamajhi first entered C-STEP at FTCC in 2016. Her dedication, tenacity and enthusiasm earned her the award of the James M. Johnston Undergraduate Nursing Scholarship and the Carolina Covenant Scholarship, positioning her to graduate from undergraduate and nursing school debt-free.

In a conversation following her white coat ceremony, Saru attributed her success to the continued support she received during her time as a student at FTCC, which helped her successfully transition to UNC-Chapel Hill. Saru’s success is primarily the result of her own willpower, and I have been fortunate and honored to be a part of her journey.

As a C-STEP advisor, I experience — through the eyes of my students — the thrill of seeing what this program offers. I experience the students’ excitement when they visit the Carolina campus and begin to paint the canvas of their journey with whatever dreams they envision. I see firsthand the motivation of C-STEP students as they continually strive to do their best to live up to what it means to be a Carolina student. And while these experiences certainly motivate me, I am most appreciative of the strong bonds that form year after year with FTCC C-STEP students.

Often, FTCC C-STEP students represent individuals from different backgrounds and cultures, yet all sharing a common goal: attending UNC Chapel Hill. C-STEP students share experiences with each other that last a lifetime. They demonstrate their allegiance through the personal bonds they form with each other, and they equally pledge their allegiance to the C-STEP program. Former students encourage incoming cohorts by filling them in on what to expect and by reaching out to provide post-grad opportunities for C-STEP students.

The advantages offered to C-STEP students go beyond providing them with admission into UNC-Chapel Hill. C-STEP is an all-encompassing program that allows students the opportunity to gain extensive knowledge about the campus, meet key individuals who will assist them when they arrive and share meaningful camaraderie with likeminded individuals. Each year when I send an FTCC C-STEP student to UNC-Chapel Hill, I emphasize that the FTCC relationship never ends. FTCC is helping dreams come true through the C-STEP program.

Students interested in obtaining more information regarding C-STEP should contact me, university outreach coordinator, at nelsonl@faytechcc.edu or 910-678-8205.

Photo: Saru Rayamajhi