Student: Sam Huffman
Sam Huffman’s path to success with ECU’s STEPP program
For many students, choosing a college is about academic programs or campus life. For Sam Huffman, it was about finding the right support. When trying to find his home for the next four years, Huffman had one major requirement: attend a college with a learning disability support program.
“I was looking for colleges with a support program and my friend suggested ECU as he had heard of their STEPP program. STEPP was honestly the main reason I chose to attend ECU,” Huffman said in describing the Supporting Transition and Education through Planning and Partnerships program at East Carolina University.
The ECU STEPP program is a transformative initiative that supports students with learning disabilities to achieve a college education by providing mentoring, tutoring and academic advising. Ten students are accepted each year and work with STEPP throughout their four years on campus.
Sam Huffman gets ready to film a video about the STEPP program.
According to Huffman, STEPP is one of only a few nationwide programs that have this amount of support and is available to select students with no additional costs or fees. “It really does work. STEPP has one of the largest graduation rates of students with learning disabilities,” Huffman adds.
Huffman’s journey with STEPP began in 2020 when he was accepted into the program. His involvement with the program grew significantly from there. During Huffman’s sophomore year, he became the social media and marketing manager for STEPP along with becoming the social media manager for ECU Disability Support Services.
“STEPP has been the most impactful part of my college journey and has helped launch me into the richness of Pirate nation,” Huffman said.
During his college career, Huffman has been nominated for seven awards and has won six of them including the ECU Student Employee of the Year: Innovation and Technology Award and the School of Communication Student Employee of the Year Award.
Not only is Huffman involved with social media and marketing, but he has also been active in politics. In 2023, his proclamation requesting October to be recognized as Learning Disabilities Awareness Month was approved by North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. “I was able to go to Raleigh and meet with politicians to advocate on behalf of ECU for those with learning differences. It was a once in a lifetime experience,” Huffman said.
During his time bringing awareness to learning disabilities, accommodations have come up as an important topic that Huffman wants to bring more awareness to.
“I’ve had people in the past tell me accommodations are advantages but they’re not,” he said. “Accommodations level the playing field for those with learning disabilities and help them accomplish the tasks that everyone else can.”
Huffman reflects on when he had his first encounter with the possibility of having a learning disability: “I remember in kindergarten, my classmates and I were working on a worksheet; I looked up and realized everyone had finished a long time before me and was outside enjoying recess, but I still hadn’t finished the worksheet.”
He was later diagnosed in the first grade with dyslexia and dyscalculia. “I remember there being a point when I didn’t want to go to college because school had never come easy for me and I was unsure if I could do another four years of schooling,” he said.
However, four years later, Huffman is excelling at ECU and with the STEPP program and will be graduating this December with a Bachelor of Science in communication with a journalism concentration.
Sam Huffman is a communication major graduating in December.
“I have been so fortunate to have support for many years. It hasn’t always been the easiest journey, but I have gotten there through accommodations and support,” he said. “I will always have a learning difference, but it is unparalleled to anything else.”
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STATISTICS
Name: Sam Huffman
College: School of Communication
Major: Communication with a journalism concentration
Age: 23
Classification/Year: Senior
Hometown: Greensboro
Hobbies/interests: Going to the beach, hanging out with friends and family, doing anything creative, listening to music (especially Christmas music) and playing with my dog Livy
Clubs and Organizations: STEPP program
FAVORITES
Favorite place on campus: The STEPP Cove
Favorite place to eat: The Cheesecake Factory
Favorite class: Electronic News Performance with Dr. Glenn Hubbard
Professor who influenced you the most: Dr. Danielle Dietz
Favorite band/musician: Kelly Clarkson
Favorite movie: “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation”
Favorite app: Instagram
MOTIVATIONS
Dream job: Social media and marketing manager
Role model: My dad and mom, Jeff and Lisa Huffman, are my role models because they have been by my side through every step, especially school. They always remind me to give my best effort. They have never given up on me, even when school has been challenging. They are always there for me.
What advice do you have for other students? Never give up. Always do your best and give 100% in everything you do.
What is something cool about ECU that you wish you knew during your first year? Students are surrounded by multiple layers of support at ECU. There are many departments to help you during your journey as a Pirate — never be afraid to ask and receive help.