Laney AIG Update

Laney: Monday & Tuesday

NHHS: Wednesday - Friday

The one and only required meeting for AIG Seniors is scheduled for TUESDAY, SEPT. 15 in the Media Center. You may choose which time/session you would like to attend.

• 8:00 AM
• 10:00 AM

The info shared at each session will be the same - you only have to attend one. We will cover college application info, scholarship tips and timeline, and finalizing AIG paperwork for graduation.

DATE: Tuesday Sept. 29

TIME: 6pm

LOCATION: Media Center

PURPOSE: to review high school AIG services

The North Carolina Governor's School is a four-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. Learning focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and it does not involve credit, tests, or grades. Students are selected to attend through a competitive process after being nominated by their public school unit or non-public school.

SPECIFIC SCHOOL NOMINATIONS ARE SELECTED FROM COMPLETED APPLICATIONS

COUNTY DEADLINE FOR SCHOOL SUBMITTED NOMINATIONS:

3pm October 23rd to reagan.mauk@nhcs.net

Please use the link below to access my GS newsletter with additional information. NHHS student info session: Tuesday, Sept. 29 @10am, STEM area in the Media Center. Please RSVP from the newsletter.

NESST is the Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking. Housed at the Smithsonian Science Education Center, it is a global network comprised of youth, educational innovators, business leaders, STEM professionals, organizations, and communities interested in transforming STEM education for a more sustainable future. Committed to thinking differently through the lens of emergence and complexity, NESST reimagines education for life on a sustainable planet.

The Network for Emergent Socio-Scientific Thinking (NESST) is gearing up to host another cohort for the Youth Ambassador Program! Students (ages 14 to 19) interested in joining a global team of youth dedicated to working towards a more sustainable future are encouraged to apply for the program! Applications will open on Monday, September 14, 2026.

From January through June 2027, Flight Crew members:

• Build leadership, communication, and advocacy skills through coaching, mentorship, and real-world experience.
• Represent their states as members of a national cohort of STEM ambassadors.
• Share their STEM journeys through speaking engagements, media opportunities, social media, and other public appearances.
• Inspire more young people to explore STEM while championing the value of afterschool and summer STEM learning.

Youth ages 13-18, with experience in afterschool and summer STEM learning and an interest in developing public speaking and leadership skills, to apply today. The deadline to apply is 11:59PM EST on October 29, 2026.

Young people can learn more and apply here.

Five juniors will be selected to represent your school at the annual Youth Leadership & Entrepreneurial Conference, on Friday, November 6, 2026, at the Brunswick Energy and Education Center in Southport.

Held in coordination with the Jesse Helms Center, the conference will connect students with business leaders and young professionals across the Seventh Congressional District.

Nominees should be enrolled in or have completed a government, civics, or U.S. history course and demonstrate strong communication skills in group settings.

If you would like to be considered for nomination, please complete the form at the button below. All students who attend must be able to provide their own transportation.

This program honors 9th - 12th grade students who are active and interested in computing and technology and encourages them to pursue their passions. Award recipients are selected based on their aptitude and aspirations in technology and computing, as demonstrated by their computing experience, computing-related activities, leadership experience, persistence, and future plans. In its 20+ year history, more than 25,000 students have received an AiC Award. The multi-tiered award structure includes Winner, Honorable Mention, and Rising Star designations at National and Regional Affiliate levels.

You may want to review the Application Step-by-Step Guide.​

• View the step-by-step guide to joining the AiC Community here. Applicants must first join the AiC Community before applying for an AiC Award.
• Have your educator follow the Endorsement Step-by-Step Guide to complete their endorsement. An endorsement is not required; however, it is strongly recommended if you wish to be considered for a national award designation.
• For frequently asked questions about applying, approvals, and endorsements, please visit the FAQ page.

We are excited to announce that the application is now available! Applicants can apply for YES Abroad semester program. Eligible applicants can apply here.

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program is a fully funded opportunity for U.S. students to spend the 2027 spring semester abroad in Bosnia and Herzegovina, India, Indonesia, or North Macedonia.

High school students and recent graduates will have a chance to explore a new country, broaden their perspectives, and develop language abilities by living with a host family, studying in a local school, and participating in leadership activities. YES students share information about their home culture with their hosts and local communities while building lasting relationships, strengthening the linkages between the U.S. and YES countries at the same time.

By participating in YES Abroad, you will develop leadership, language, and professional skills. Your worldview will expand and you will gain a new, lifelong network of friends and family overseas. All of this can give you a competitive edge that helps turn your academic and career aspirations into reality.

Basic Eligibility Requirements:

• U.S. citizens
• Ages 15 to 18½ at the start of the program
• Currently enrolled in grades 9-12 or currently on gap year (graduation date in 2026).

Apply online at yes-abroad.org or call 800-380-6552 for more information.

Click here to start 2027 YES Semester Application or to access an application already in progress.

The application deadline is September 22, 2026 (4 PM ET).

The Gifted Advisory Council (GAC) is an independent council of families, community members, business leaders, and NHCS staff who meet monthly to support and advocate for the NHCS AIG Program. The GAC is part of the community partnership standard in the 2025-2028 AIG Plan. The council provides perspectives, information, and independent initiatives that are not shared through regular NHCS AIG communications.

The GAC includes a family member of an AIG student from each school (and an AIG student from each high school) to participate in the monthly meetings from 6-7pm at the Board of Education building. The student and parent rep do not have to be from the same family.

I have attached the meeting schedule for this year as well as the link to the volunteer sign-up form.

​​​NHCS Gifted Advisory Council Meeting Schedule-26-27.docx

AIG students will be enrolled in an AIG Canvas site this year that will house AIG newsletters, updates, and opportunities. Newsletters will only be directly emailed to family members to try and cut down on the quantity of email students receive. If you receive an email from me, that means I am specifically reaching out to you personally about something important.

North Carolina Early Action applicants who submit their application by November 1 and have a complete application and confirmed North Carolina residency by November 10 will receive their admission decision by the end of December.

FREE & REDUCED TUITION COLLEGE OPPORTUNITIES

Seniors have been invited to join the Scholarship Canvas this year. All scholarship info and community and school-based applications will be available through this Canvas. STUDENTS can use the button below to join. You must log into NC EdCloud to join/access.

Students interested in learning more about the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program are invited to sign up for a Q&A session featuring insights from current scholars and alumni. Please register for the session you'd like to attend by clicking on the hyperlinks below.

Get to Know the Robertson Scholars Leadership Program

September 20, 2026 12:00pm-1:00pm ET

How to Get in to Top-25 Ranked Schools

Getting into a top-25 school takes more than strong grades, and former Yale Assistant Director of Admissions Stacey Tuttle knows exactly what the rest of the picture looks like. CollegeAdvisor's free webinar How to Get Into Top-25 Ranked Schools covers how highly selective schools weigh academics, extracurricular impact, essays, and recommendations together, how to evaluate whether a school is actually a good fit, and how to build an application strategy that holds up under real scrutiny. Live Q&A included.

📅 Wednesday, Sept 16 | ⏰ 8:00 PM ET

Register Now

The Morehead Cain is highly competitive UNC-Chapel Hill Scholarship that is a 4 year, fully funded scholarship with significant enrichment experiences including 4 summer of global exploration, leadership and civic engagement to foster leadership and community impact.

Students are currently able to self nominate only.

Click for more information: https://www.moreheadcain.org/

Click HERE to start your application

Deadline: October 1 (scholarship application + early application for UNC)

The Park Scholarship is a highly competitive NC State program that brings together students with outstanding accomplishments and potential in scholarship, leadership, service and character.

THE PARK SCHOLARSHIPS PROGRAM provides a four-year scholarship covering:

■ Tuition, fees and room and board

■ Books and personal expenses

■ Enrichment grants to fund study abroad,

research, service and more

Application Deadline: November 1st (Scholarship application + early application for UNC)

This is a perfect chance for families, neighbors, and friends to come together, give back, and make a positive impact in our community. Bring your loved ones and enjoy a fulfilling weekend while helping those in need. We encourage you to sign up and spread the word!

Warehouse Project - Wilmington

Volunteer Shifts:

• Tuesday-Friday, 9am-11:30am & 1-3:30pm
• 2nd Saturday of the month: 9am-11:30 AM

Projects are held inside the Volunteer Area. Occasionally, we may hold projects outside, weather permitting. Some projects include:

• Sorting bulk produce into family–size bags.
• Sorting donations from retail stores.
• Cleaning and bagging drink pouches.
• Sorting and inspecting food drive donations from individuals and corporations.
• Other activities may be available according to partner and community needs.

The Miracle League of Wilmington is an accessible baseball league filled with joy, dancing and home runs for children and adults living with disabilities; Ages 3+. Currently, the Miracle League of Wilmington serves over 150+ All Stars through three types of teams: Classic, Tee Ball, Competitive.

Spring and Fall Season are held for 8 weeks!.

FALL: September 12th

SPRING: February

Volunteers sign ups for the Miracle League Fall season starting Sept. 7th. We rely on over 100 volunteers every game day and are so grateful to our past and future volunteers! Volunteer sign up at the link below.

• Sept. 30 - Coca-Cola Scholarship
• Sept. 30 - Writers of the Future
• Oct. 4 - US Senate Youth Program
• Oct. 26 - Congressional App Challenge
• Dec. 1 - Congressional Essay Contest

Email: reagan.mauk@nhcs.net
AIG Website: https://sites.google.com/nhcs.net/laney-nhhs-aig/home-1
Office: 214
Phone: 910-251-6100