When it comes to life experience, Syndric Steptoe ’13 boasts more than most. His University of Arizona football career vaulted him into the NFL and four seasons with the Cleveland Browns. He later bought a restaurant franchise, earned a master’s degree, and eventually returned to UA Athletics, where he helped student-athletes navigate career and professional-development choices.

Each year, 1,200 University of Arizona students pursue their studies in 60 countries, where they learn to identify global problems and make connections with their career goals.

Kethia Kong ’16 and Morgan Larson ’14 ’15 share similar stories. Both were high-performing students in high school who earned a place at the University of Arizona but were unable to afford the cost of a college education.

Mia Mason knows what it’s like to overcome adversity. At age 12, she was diagnosed with ependymoma, an extremely rare form of brain cancer. With support from family, medical treatment and determination, Mason was able to beat the disease.