Project Stepping Stone

Project Stepping Stone (PSS) is a no-cost college prep and mentoring program serving Indiana’s top academically high-achieving Hispanic/Latino high school students. During PSS, students engage in hands-on experiential learning and are introduced to potential careers at 10 of Indiana’s top college and university campuses. Project Stepping Stone (PSS) was founded in 2004 by the National Society of Hispanic MBAs (NSHMBA) with input from Stan Jones, former Indiana Commissioner for Higher Education. The Commissioner requested assistance in addressing the low high school graduation rates of Hoosier Hispanic/Latino high school students. NSHMBA designed PSS to encourage students to graduate and pursue higher education. PSS has grown and is now the flagship program of Escala Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Indiana. Now in its 20th year, PSS continues its mission to increase college-going rates and to encourage the next generation of Hoosier leaders. Indiana’s economy needs more educated, skilled workers, but has struggled to increase its college enrollment and attainment. The Indiana Commission for Higher Education reported that the college-going rate has declined for the past five years and of the 2022 high school graduating class, only 53% went directly to college. In that same class, only 44% of Hispanic/Latino HS graduates went directly to college. PSS is changing these statistics–one student at a time!