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The second year of college is an important part of a student’s academic experience and to help students gain the most – they can participate in a program called the  (STEP).

 At ������̳ Mansfield multiple students are currently involved with STEP and in early spring, 10 participated in a regional campus trip to Washington, D.C.

For many students, this was their first visit to the nation’s capital and the first time they experienced a major city – with all of its hustle and bustle – including urban transportation such as the Amtrak train and subway.

“I had never ridden a train before myself, so this was a new experience for me and the students,” said Donna Hight, assistant dean for student life and student success at ������̳ Mansfield.

The goal of the trip was to expose students to careers and opportunities related to law and government, museums and anything else they were able to learn during their visit.

Placed they visited

The trip included visits to major government buildings, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as well as the Smithsonian museums.

“This was a great experience,” said Loni Hughes, a student from East Cleveland. “I am studying Criminology and Criminal Justice, and have applied to multiple law firms and the FBI for internships. The FBI tour really solidified that it is something I truly want.”

The cultural museums were especially of interest, according to students Clara Hecker, of Mansfield, and Sam Calcut, of Grafton.

“The more somber museums (African American History and Culture Museum and Holocaust Museum) definitely impacted me the most,” said Hecker. “To see some of the darkest parts of American and international history set so plainly in front of me is something I won't forget easily.”

Education and kindness

Calcut said the trip showed him the importance of education and kindness.

“Going through the Holocaust museum, the Vietnam Memorial, the Native American Museum, and the African American History Museum showed me that people often hate what they don't understand,” he said. “When humans don't strive to continue learning we become easily manipulated into committing horrible atrocities on other people.”

Tara Hines, first-year academic success coordinator, said the D.C. trip allowed Mansfield students to experience a trip similar to the kinds of trips ������̳ Columbus students often experience. Other regional campuses that participated included ������̳ Lima, Marion and Wooster.

“Not only did they spend time interacting with each other, but they also mingled with student groups from other campuses,” Hines said. “And because our campus sent more students of color than other campuses, the cultural museums were even more significant.”

As part of the broader STEP experience, participating students have the opportunity to pursue a STEP Signature Project, in one of the following categories: creative and artistic endeavor, education abroad, internship, leadership, service-learning or undergraduate research, for which eligible transformational experiences may receive up to $2,000 in funding.

Hight said several Mansfield students are pursuing signature projects, and noted they will present their projects at the STEP Expo in November.

“The D.C. trip was an opportunity to get out of Ohio and experience something different,” Hight said. “Many of the students probably couldn’t have made this happen if not for the funding from the university. It was encouraging to see so the excitement and learning that took place, and the inspiration students got along the way.”

Appreciating history

According to Calcut, the trip helped him appreciate American history while also focusing on where the country is headed.

 “Visiting the some of the monuments on the first night helped me appreciate the true scale and size of our nation's history. The more lighthearted tours (FBI Headquarters, Air & Space Museum, Natural History Museum) were entertaining as well as informative,” he said.

If you’re a student thinking about participating in STEP, Hecker said it’s definitely something to do.

“It's a great opportunity to meet new people, from a wide range of majors but with similar goals,” Hecker said. “It may seem like a lot, but once you sit down and actually look at everything, it's quite simple. You still have to put in some work, but compared to some of the other classes you might be taking, STEP is definitely less stressful.”

Learn more about STEP and how you can participate,

For more information, Donna Hight can be reached at hight.6@osu.edu or 419-755-4034.