At WISE (World.Impact.Scholarships & Education), the prosthetic arm sitting on the table wasn't just the result of a STEM project.
For the WISE scholars who built it, it was proof that what they were learning could matter to someone beyond themselves.
Working alongside e-NABLE and using 3D printers donated by Cox Communications, a group of WISE scholars from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale spent weeks designing, testing, revising, and assembling a prosthetic arm for a pediatric nurse in San Diego. The project demanded patience, teamwork, and problem solving. It also delivered something less tangible but equally important: confidence.
When the arm was complete, the WISE scholars saw firsthand how their effort could improve another person's daily life.
That lesson sits at the heart of the WISE Scholarship Program.
Founded by The Steele Family Foundation, WISE was created for students whose potential may exceed the opportunities available to them. While the program provides scholarship support, its focus extends far beyond tuition assistance. Through mentorship, leadership development, volunteer service, career exploration, wellness resources, and hands-on experiences, WISE scholars gain exposure to opportunities that help shape both academic and personal growth.
The approach is intentional. WISE scholars actively participate in earn to learn WISE Program by tracking academic progress, service hours, leadership milestones, and personal development goals through the WISE digital platform. The objective isn't simply college acceptance. It's helping students develop the skills, perspective, and confidence needed to thrive long after graduation, moving them into a well rounded global citizen.
That growth is evident in scholars like Liliana, one of the WISE scholars from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale who helped build the prosthetic arm.
"The WISE Program has given me many opportunities and paths for bettering not only my future college and career paths, but it's also bettered how I view myself. It's mainly helped me reflect on who I am, who I want to be, and how I conduct myself around my friends and peers," she says.
For Kim, Angel, and Nick, that journey began with a second chance.
Through WISE's partnership with Grace Sober Living, the three became members of the program's first graduating class in the United States. Each arrived with a different story, but all shared a determination to move forward.
During their time in the program, they collectively completed more than 1,000 volunteer service hours with organizations including Andre House, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Mary's Food Bank, Phoenix Rescue Mission, and Arcadia City Church.
The experience reinforced a simple truth: when young people are trusted with responsibility and given meaningful ways to contribute, they often begin to see themselves differently.
Kim reflects on what WISE has meant in her own journey.
"I'm so grateful for WISE and the opportunity it's given me to rebuild my life through education. My faith has been my anchor through this journey, and I truly believe God is using WISE to open doors I never thought possible."
For Dalila, that shift came through an internship at the Marine Mammal Care Center in Los Angeles.
Through WISE's partnership with the Just Keep Livin Foundation, she gained firsthand exposure to environmental conservation, nonprofit operations, and animal care while working alongside professionals in the field. What began as an internship became an opportunity to explore interests, test strengths, and gain clarity about future possibilities.
Many students don't lack ambition. They simply haven't been exposed to all that's possible.
While WISE scholars are building futures across North America and beyond, the program's roots remain firmly planted in Scottsdale.
Longtime Arizona residents Mike and Stacey Steele established the Steele Family Foundation nearly two decades ago with a commitment to expanding access to education, mentorship, and opportunity. What began as a local investment has grown into a scholarship and leadership platform serving WISE scholars in the United States, Canada, Ghana, Turkey, Italy, and India. Earlier this summer, the Foundation received Charity of the Year recognition from the Canadian Choice Awards, reflecting the growing reach of its work.
Despite that growth, the mission remains deeply personal.
The most meaningful outcomes are not measured in scholarships awarded or hours logged. They are measured in the confidence gained by a WISE scholar who discovers a new path forward, the graduate who overcomes significant obstacles, or the young person who begins to recognize strengths they never knew they possessed.
A WISE scholarship can open a door. A mentor can change a perspective. An experience can reshape a future.
thesteelefamilyfoundation.com
"Many students don't lack ambition. They're simply not exposed to all that's possible. A mentor can change a perspective, and an experience can reshape a future."
"When young people are trusted with responsibility and given meaningful ways to contribute, they often begin to see themselves differently."