Laney AIG Update

Laney: Monday & Friday

NHHS: Wed & Thurs

Tuesday: Work Day/Election Day

Who: 10th graders

What: ALL sophomores take the PreACT on Nov. 16

- find out why it matters

When: Tuesday Nov. 10 during Flex

Where: Media Center

How: sign up in Infinite Campus

2027 PROGRAM APPLICATION & REGISTRATION INFORMATION

PROGRAM DATES

March 5–7, 2027

APPLICATION DEADLINE - December 15, 2026

PAPERWORK & PAYMENT DEADLINE - January 5, 2027

REGISTRATION FEES

Early-Bird Registration: $470.00 - All required paperwork and payment must be received on or before November 9, 2026 to qualify for the early-bird rate. Incomplete submissions will not qualify for early-bird pricing.

Regular Registration: $520.00 - The regular registration fee applies to completed paperwork and payments received on or after November 10, 2026.

Application Fee: $30.00: A non-refundable application fee is required at the time the application is submitted. If the student is accepted to YLA, the application fee will be applied toward the registration fee.

IMPORTANT: The application fee must be paid when the application is submitted. An application without the required application fee will not be considered for participation. No individual reminders will be sent regarding unpaid application fees.

PROGRAM AT A GLANCE

Need help with a challenging class, feedback on an essay, or extra SAT/ACT practice? Remember that you have FREE access to online tutoring through Tutor.com, study tools, practice tests, and research resources through the New Hanover County Public Library’s CLASS Project!

Enter your school ID (lunch number) wherever a library card number is requested. If prompted for a PIN, the default is the last four digits of your school ID. Take advantage of these resources to build confidence and stay on track!

Fleet Reserve Association (US Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard) sponsors an annual essay contest to promote the spirit of Americanism and patriotism among our country’s youth. FRA's Americanism Essay Contest is open to all students, grades 7 through 12, including those who are home schooled. Students are invited to submit a 350-word essay through an FRA member or local FRA branch before the December 1st deadline. Local winners are forwarded for competition at the regional level and regional winners compete for national prizes.

The grand national winner receives $1,500. Other winners receive $1,000 for first place, $750 for second place, and $500 for third place. Each national winner will receive an attractive plaque citing his/her achievement, and every entrant judged at the national level receives a certificate of recognition. Prizes may be awarded to students winning at local and regional levels of competition.

On Wednesday Nov. 4, the NC School of Science & Math (NCSSM) will be here at 2:30pm in the media center to give information about their programs.

• Summer programming is available for 10th & 11th graders.
• The residential high school program is for students who want to live and attend high school at one of the NCSSM campuses during their junior and senior years.
• There are also NCSSM Connect courses available to 9-12 students as well as the NCSSM Online program that works much like dual enrollment.

9-11th graders are encouraged to attend to get more information.

Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics is a no-cost, state-funded program for academically talented North Carolina students who aspire to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. You will have the opportunity to engage in research with faculty and get hands-on experience at a university.

The application is the same as the NCSSM residential and online program but you simply be sure to select (or include) Summer Ventures as your program of choice. There are multiple campuses and students are matched to a campus based on their interests. This is a competitive program so it also serves as a great addition to your college applicatiions as well as providing you a great "college" experience.

Here is a link for more information and the application: https://www.ncssm.edu/summerventures

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience where students develop their skills as leaders while having fun and making connections. The program is organized by your local New Hanover County Rotary clubs and the Rotary District of SE North Carolina. You must be able to attend the 1/2 day conference on Saturday, Dec. 5 at UNCW. Please do not apply if you are not available. (No cost.)

RYLA participants connect with leaders from the community and around the world to:
• Build communication and problem-solving skills
• Discover strategies for becoming a dynamic leader in your school or community
• Learn from community leaders, inspirational speakers, and peer mentors
• Unlock your potential to turn motivation into action
• Have fun and form everlasting relationships

How am I selected for RYLA?
Each year, high school juniors from local high schools in New Hanover County will be selected to participate in a local RYLA conference at UNCW. Elements considered:

• Your academic performance. You should be an above average student with good study habits but not necessarily a straight-A student or one seeking academic scholarships.
• Your self-awareness. You should have a positive attitude and exhibit confidence with a willingness to meet others and debate current issues.
• Your ambitions after high school. You may want a vocational career from a community college or apprentice program or a professional career through a university or graduate school.
• Your social engagement. You may have a job while attending school, be active in a team sport or in a community organization outside school.

We can send 10 juniors to this event. To apply, complete the RYLA application and email it to Ms. Mauk. Applications due by Nov. 6 at NOON. Please reach out to reagan.mauk@nhcs.net with questions.

Note: As the sponsoring organization, Rotary supports all students, including those who have had life experiences such as racial discrimination, sexual harassment, parental divorce, homelessness, disabilities, or recent immigration to the United States.

Parents can set up an observer account in CANVAS by getting a specific one-time use pairing code from their student's account. This allows families to support their students in managing their coursework. Once joined, you don't have to join again. You should be able to see all the CANVAS courses your student is enrolled in moving forward. This is an observer's account - you will not have access to the assignments themselves, but you can see what the course is offering and what has been submitted, etc. The video shared is from a private school, but the instructions on how to get the join code and create your CANVAS observer account still apply.

Each year Samsung hosts a $2 million national competition for public schools grades 6–12 in which students are asked to consider how science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) can be used to create change in their communities. With the help of their teachers, students can apply to the contest and compete to win up to $100,000 in prizes for their school, plus the opportunity to work with Samsung employees to develop their prototypes.

The Samsung Solve for Tomorrow contest is now open. Application submissions will close on November 23. Any teacher can apply and win big! At this point in the contest, you do not need a perfected idea or complete solution. Simply identify the problem you and your students would like to tackle and your proposed solution that uses STEM to solve it. (I'm willing to serve as your teacher of record if needed.)

Go to https://www.samsung.com/us/solvefortomorrow/ to learn more. You can also give a listen to the dailySTEM podcast to hear directly from teachers and Samsung leadership about the competition. You can hear from Solve for Tomorrow Alumni and STEM teacher, Kevin Lay and Senior Director of Corporate Citizenship at Samsung, Ann Woo.

Azalea Ambassadors serve as representatives of the Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc. Azalea Ambassadors are responsible, enthusiastic, community-oriented high school students with a desire to support and participate in the annual Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour, as well as other events related to the North Carolina Azalea Festival. Through their interactions with visitors attending the Garden Tour, Azalea Ambassadors help to stimulate interest in gardening, conservation, and community beautification. Applications to become an Ambassador are typically accepted each fall for the upcoming spring Garden Tour.

*The Cape Fear Garden Club Azalea Garden Tour is April 9-11, 2027. Applicants must be available to participate on these dates.

Applications are now being accepted , the deadline to apply is December 7, 2026. Applicants must be young people who are high school seniors, juniors or sophomores attending school or residing in New Hanover, Brunswick or Pender County or be the child or grandchild of a Cape Fear Garden Club member.

If you are interested in becoming an Azalea Ambassador, or you know someone who is, please submit your application through the following link: Azalea Ambassadors 2027 APPLICATION

Click here for a printable PDF application if needed.

What’s it like to be a teenager right now?

What are the unique challenges your generation faces?
What special opportunities does the world of 2026 offer young people?

For this year’s edition of our long-running “Coming of Age” contest, we are inviting visual work only, but you can choose from photography, drawing, painting, cartoons, charts, graphs, screenshots, short films, sculpture or virtually any other visual medium you can upload via a photo. Your submission must be accompanied by an artist statement documenting your process and reflecting on how your piece relates to the three focus questions above.

We’ll post the full rules and guidelines soon. Until then, check out our previous Coming of Age contests, especially this one, from 2022, which was also focused on visual art.

Click the image above to apply!

Eligibility:

• Current high school seniors, or the equivalent, who are citizens of the United States
• Applicants do not need to be related to a member of the Elks.
• High school graduates are not eligible to apply.
• Applicants must be citizens of the United States on the date their applications are submitted; permanent legal resident status does not qualify.
• Scholarships are available only to students who enroll in four-year undergraduate degree programs at accredited U.S. American colleges or universities.

Awards:

• The Elks National Foundation will award 500 four-year scholarships.

• Male and female students compete separately.

• Ranging from $1,000 per year to $7,500 per year, Most Valuable Student scholarships are for students pursuing a four-year degree, on a full-time basis (minimum of 12 semester hours), in a U.S. college or university. All scholarships are in the form of certificates of award conditional upon the full-time enrollment of the winner in an accredited U.S. college or university.

Applicants select from a list of the Lodges closest to their home address. Students should choose Wilmington Lodge 532 as their sponsoring Lodge

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.

Each month on the 2nd Saturday, CFRW conducts a community clean-up somewhere in the local Cape Fear area. Clean-ups are almost always from 9am-11am. Anyone can sign-up to join the clean-up event. CFRW staff provide gloves, trash/recycle bags, and grabbers for volunteers. Check the calendar each month as locations are usually TBD until about a week before. You should register to attend so they will have enough supplies. Click on the event in the CFRW calendar to register.

Are you ready to make a splash and help young swimmers dive into fun? The YMCA's 2nd Grade Swim Program is looking for enthusiastic volunteers who love working with kids! This program is completely FREE for all 2nd graders, and we need your help to make it an unforgettable experience for every child.

As a volunteer, you’ll be the ultimate swim buddy, assisting our coaches as they teach kids basic swimming skills, water safety, and most importantly—having fun in the pool! You’ll get the chance to cheer on the kids as they gain confidence in the water, create memories that last a lifetime, and maybe even make a few new friends along the way!

No swimming experience? No problem! If you’re friendly, patient, and ready to help, we’d love to have you on board. Let’s create a fun, safe, and splash-tacular experience for all the 2nd graders!

You need to create a volunteer account FIRST and then go to this page to sign up for a Schools in Pools help session.

paws4people®️ trains and places Assistance Dogs, empowering users to transform their lives for a better tomorrow. You can volunteer with dogs in Wilmington, NC through paws4people®️. Our volunteer opportunities include:

• Puppy socialization
• Resource development professionals
• Media management, publicity, and/or public relations professionals
• Graphic designers, copywriters, editors, videographers
• Internet professionals of all types — web technology, web design, search engine specialists, marketing, communication

Interested in short-term opportunities open to the public? Click here to fill out a volunteer interest form.

The William H. Craig Race for Life is a celebratory race for the YMCA's Girls on the Run, Heart & Sole and STRIDE participants. These programs encourage kids and families to pursue a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living while building confidence in their ability to complete a 5K. Come join boys and girls in grades 3-8, as they celebrate their accomplishments of the season! Public runners are welcome as this race provides much-needed scholarships for future Girls on the Run and STRIDE participants. A fun and festive atmosphere, William H. Craig Race for Life 5K and 10K celebrates friends, family and wellness!

Volunteers will be needed to assist with set up, tear down, water stations and other needs.

If you are looking to register as a runner, please do so at runsignup.com/craig5k10k

UNCW Greene Track and Field Complex
Intersection of Hamilton and Hurst Drive - UNCW
Wilmington, NC 28403

Contact Details

Ashley Barnes
ashley.barnes@ymcasenc.org
Renee Griffin
renee@racefullsend.com

Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel your volunteer shift, please do so through your Volunteer Matters portal. If you are having trouble, please contact Renee Griffin at renee@racefullsend.com as soon as possible.

It takes a village to nourish our community’s children.

At NourishNC, we believe that our community’s children deserve the absolute best. But we can’t do it alone. It takes the dedication and support of volunteers like you to nourish our children and fight hunger head-on.

Volunteering is at the heart of everything we do. It takes volunteer hours each year to ensure that no child in the Greater Wilmington, NC area goes to bed hungry. Your time is a precious gift that can change lives, brighten futures, and strengthen our community.

Join us in making a lasting impact, one child at a time.

• Nov. 5 deadline - 2027 Regeneron Science Talent Search (12th)
• Nov. 13 - NC Congressional Internships
• Nov. 13 - HOBY Leadership Seminar (10TH): School Applications
• Nov. 13 - Value of Water Art Contest
• Nov. 13 - Carson Scholarship Nomination (9-11)
• Nov. 15 - Azalea Festival Scholarship Pageant (11-12)
• Nov. 16 - NC Theatre Conference (9-12)
• Dec. 1 - 9th-12th: NSCDA 50th Anniversary Congressional Essay Contest
• Dec. 1 - Coolidge Scholarship (11)
• Dec. 1 - Congressional Essay Contest
• Dec.18-Springboard to Design Summer Program (9-12)
• Jan. 17 - ABC Scholarship

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