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The Port Chester STEER Student-Athlete Cohort is committed to creating positive change in their community by making important information and community resources more accessible to local students. Through their Project-Based Learning experience, students are exploring how access to information, resources, and support can empower young people to take a more proactive role in their own lives and community. The cohort is focused on connecting students with the resources they nee

Over the past six weeks, our Sleepy Hollow Cohort Project-Based Learning students have taken on an important issue impacting their community: hunger and access to nutritious food. They took their learning from the classroom into the community with Gameday Nutrition, working directly with younger students to teach them about healthy eating, proper nutrition, and the importance of fueling their bodies to grow, stay active, and perform their best. What makes this project so spec

Home and Hope hosted its first Pop-Up Mobile Food Distribution at Charter School of Educational Excellence in Yonkers in partnership with Feeding Westchester. The impact was incredible. 📍 79 households 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 379 people represented 🧒 166 children | 👨 170 adults | 👵 43 seniors 🥫 6,872 pounds of food distributed 🏘️ Families represented across 7 ZIP Codes This incredible initiative was created through STEER’s Project-Based Learning program by Charter School of Educati

We’re proud to celebrate the release of Strike Season, written by Michael Eck, co-founder of STEER for Student Athletes. This release is especially meaningful to the STEER community because proceeds from Strike Season will benefit STEER for Student Athletes, helping us continue to provide student-athletes with the mentorship, academic support, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. For Mike, Strike Season is more than the release of a book. It’s another way to give

Last night, we proudly celebrated our 25 graduating seniors as they prepare to embark on their next chapter. It was an evening filled with emotion, excitement, and reflection as we recognized the hard work, resilience, leadership, and dedication these student-athletes have shown throughout their journeys. From achievements in the classroom and in competition to their impact within the community, this graduating class has left a lasting mark on the STEER family, and we are exc

Congratulations to STEER Sleepy Hollow Student Athlete Dariel Pichardo competed at the Penn Relays and finished in 7th place! Truly something to be proud of. Here’s a great shot of him with Olympic gold medalist Carl Lewis, along with another picture of him and fellow STEER Student Athlete Brayden Richardson!

The Unified team is a great example of what teamwork and inclusion should look like. It brings together students from the Pioneer program and their peers to compete side by side against other schools with unified teams. Port Chester STEER Student Athletes proudly participated in partnership with the Pioneer League, showing not just effort and competition, but real unity, support, and sportsmanship.

Congratulations to STEER co-founder, Mike Eck, who can now add published author to his varied list of accomplishments. His book, Strike Season, chronicles how Mike, and his teammates, coached their high school football team when a teachers strike pulled their coaches from the sideline. Watch this book trailer to learn more. Mike’s story, and that of his team, is unbelievable, but true. Buy a copy for an incredible read and the added bonus is that proceeds from the book will

STEER BOSSJ student-athletes are kicking off their AAU season with excitement and determination. As they begin competition, they look to build on their hard work, develop their skills, and represent their community with pride. The season provides an opportunity for growth, teamwork, and exposure as they compete at a high level.

After undergoing ACL surgery last spring, Laila worked tirelessly all year to earn medical clearance just in time for the final week of the regular season. She quickly made an impact, winning her second Section Championship and earning the #1 seed at the NYS Championships as she aimed to defend her state title. Despite wrestling more minutes in a single day than she had all season, Laila battled her way back to the state finals for the second consecutive year. Unfortunately,

STEER CSEE student-athletes play an active role in giving back by coaching over 200 elementary school students in partnership with Eastern FC. Through this initiative, they serve as mentors and role models, helping young athletes develop both their skills and confidence. The program fosters leadership, teamwork, and community engagement while strengthening connections between student-athletes and local youth. It also provides a meaningful opportunity for participants to inspi

Student-athletes from Port Chester High School and the Charter School of Educational Excellence came together for a competitive and spirited softball scrimmage, showcasing talent, teamwork, and the strength of the Steer community. In a unique full-circle moment, both teams were led by Steer advisors, with Mike Desimone coaching CSEE and Jeanine Maiolini coaching PCHS. Their leadership on the field reflects the same mentorship and support they provide to student-athletes every

We are excited to welcome Steer’s 2025–2026 onboarding class, with 21 outstanding new student-athletes joining our community across the five schools we proudly serve. Each new member brings a unique story, a strong work ethic, and a commitment to excellence both on and off the field. As they begin their journey with Steer, we are energized by the opportunity to support their growth, help guide their paths, and empower them to reach their full potential. This new class represe

Sleepy Hollow High School football had an outstanding season recognized at the state level. Brayden Richardson and Gilbert Onwe were named 1st Team All-State, Abel Perez Rosario earned 2nd Team All-State honors, and Jeremiah Bowen received an All-State Honorable Mention. Congratulations!

Sleepy Hollow STEER student-athlete Brayden Richardson is reaching elite levels of success in track and field. Brayden is currently ranked #1 in New York State in the Long Jump and #10 in the nation, placing him among the top competitors in the country. His achievement reflects dedication, discipline, and a strong commitment to excellence both academically and athletically. Brayden continues to represent Sleepy Hollow and STEER with pride, and we are excited to celebrate his

Pictured above are Anthony Marini Jr. and Emily Keenan sorting the gift baskets for delivery STEER would like to thank the Keenan family, Emily and Jimmy, for their generous donation of holiday gift baskets for all of our STEER student-athletes. Emily Keenan has been a dedicated supporter of STEER for many years and currently serves as a valued member of our Advisory Council for Empowering Girls. Her ongoing involvement and commitment to our mission continue to make a meaning

Congratulations to STEER Student-Athlete Ray Jones, who became the first 1,000-point scorer in the history of the Charter School of Educational Excellence in Yonkers. A four-year captain and the leader of the Owls boys varsity basketball team, Ray has demonstrated exceptional dedication both on and off the court. His achievement reflects years of hard work, leadership, and commitment, the qualities STEER aims to cultivate in every student-athlete. We’re proud of Ray for setti

We are proud to recognize Astrid Vargas, our Director of College and Alumni Engagement, for graduating from Nonprofit Westchester’s Emerging Leaders Program. This respected program develops rising leaders throughout the region, and Astrid distinguished herself as a thoughtful, committed, and community minded professional. Throughout the experience, she strengthened her leadership, sharpened her voice, and connected with a powerful cohort of changemakers dedicated to serving..