Ashley High School AIG Update
Week of May 5th
Opportunities of all kinds!
With AP testing my availability is pretty limited but PLEASE email me and I'll happily find a few minutes for a virtual meeting or answer a question by email.
JUNIORS: Cameron Impact Scholars (Early Deadline 5/25)
Cameron Impact Scholar - FULL Tuition ANYWHERE! Only accepts 3000 applicants for 15 winners.
The Cameron Impact Scholarship is a four-year, full-tuition, impact-driven undergraduate scholarship awarded annually to 15 exceptional high school students who have demonstrated excellence in leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, and academics. The Cameron Impact Scholar is unique among their peers in their desire to directly impact their communities and in the world at large. Our Scholar aspires to contribute to positive forces for change and plans to tailor their education to that end. The Cameron Impact Scholarship covers the full tuition, fees, and books at any accredited U.S. based college or university that the recipient chooses to attend.
As a merit-based program, the Cameron Impact Scholarship is open to all applicants who meet the GPA and citizenship requirements, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation or any other background factors. We are looking for young leaders with demonstrated passion and commitment to any variety of positive impact.
JUNIORS: Morehead-Cain Scholarship at UNC Chapel Hill (School Nominations)
The Morehead-Cain Scholarship at UNC Chapel Hill is a four-year, fully funded educational experience for students of the highest caliber. For more information about the Morehead-Cain Scholarship, please spend some time reviewing their website.
All high schools in North Carolina are eligible to nominate students for the Morehead-Cain. The number of nominees from each North Carolina high school is determined by the size of the senior class (in our case 4 students). Class of 2026 seniors who are interested in applying for the school nomination for their respective school need to make a copy, complete and submit online the Morehead Cain School Nominee Questionnaire Form by 5:00 pm on Friday, May 16, 2025. Students will be notified of their school nomination status in June 2025. Nominees who are not selected as school nominees will be strongly encouraged to self-nominate.
Current juniors (Senior Class of 2026) should complete the nominee questionnaire form in the
Scholarship Google Classroom (join code: gtbbuf3)
Chowan Campapalooza Summer Academic Camp
The 2025 summer camp at Chowan University is designed for high school students who want the college experience while taking a deep dive into a specific content area.
Registration Dates:
- Early Registration- $449.00 through 5/14/2025
- Registration- $499.00 5/15/2025-6/20/2025
Camp Descriptions (only 1 camp can be chosen per student):
- CU Catalyst - Calling all future scientists (and all interested in pursuing a biology or medical career)… The Chowan University CATALYST (Cultivating Active Thinkers And Learners in Young Scientists of Today) Program is an exciting and immersive weeklong opportunity for students to act as scientific investigators in a university setting. Utilizing basic laboratory techniques grounded in the logic of the scientific method, scholars will participate in thrilling science-based activities, learn experimental design, conduct hands-on experimentation, and ultimately conclude the program with a presentation-worthy product!
- Crime, Criminals and Getting Caught - Explore the causes and nature of crime and criminal behavior as well as the traditional and modern techniques used to investigate and solve crimes. This camp will explore some well known cases as well as those that are still unsolved.
- Design and Creativity - Are you creative? Join us and experience an intensive week of hands-on activities. You will have the opportunity to work with a variety of media while developing your personal style.Students will create various mediums.
- Movie Making - From writing the script to editing the film together, Movie Making Camp teaches students the fundamentals of making your own film. Work with fellow campers in putting together a short film that you produce. Utilize your creative talents and tell a good story.
- Creating your Financial Future - What do you mean watch the market? How do we save for retirement? How do you build a budget that is realistic and stick to it? How does interest affect you, when you save as well as when you borrow? Are you ready for financial independence?
- Arts and Crafts - Are you a knitter, crocheter, weaver, or craft show phenom? Do you enjoy creating things and sharing your creations with others? Do you enjoy learning about new ways to use everyday items and have a healthy addiction to Pinterest?
- Horror Film in America - what does it take to scare the daylights out of people. Why are we scared of Great White sharks, Cryptids from the Artic or deep in the forest, the walking dead....and what about those bad guys who are just so Bad?
- Bridge to College - Bridge to College is a one-week college sampler camp where we will try out all of the great parts of college. Dorm life, eating in the cafe, applying to college, accessing scholarships and financial aid, time management, choosing a major, thinking about your career, using university facilities and services, understanding athletic requirements and NCAA rules, visiting a local museum and exploring the history, culture and climate of a university.
**The offering of individual camps is subject to minimum enrollment.**
For questions please contact Dr. Mitch Henke at henkem@chowan.edu.
UNCW Young Writers Workshop
Tuesday, July 8 - Saturday, July 12
The Young Writers Workshop provides a place for aspiring writers to experiment, meet other writers, and follow their creative interests in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. YWW participants take part in daily creative writing exercises, craft lectures, writing workshops, and readings.
The camp offers a valuable and exciting experience for young writers interested in learning more about their craft. Although YWW students are asked to submit a work of creative writing in one genre (poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction), they receive instruction in all genres. Participants spend approximately six hours every day in writing exercises, peer workshops, and craft presentations.
2025 Cost & Registration
The workshop fee of $510 covers tuition, room, and board. Payment is due upon registration. In the event of cancellation, a $50 fee will be withheld from the refund. Fees may be paid by check (payable to UNCW) or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). Deadline = June 11, 2025
9-12 ESSAY CONTEST: Fourth Circuit Court (June 2nd)
The Fourth Circuit's 2025 Essay Contest is open to students in grades 6 through 12!
Grades 9-12: first place, $1,000; second place, $750; and third place, $500.
Link to website: https://www.ca4.uscourts.gov/essay-contest
Forty years ago, the Supreme Court held in New Jersey v. T.L.O., 469 U.S. 325 (1985), that the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures applies to the conduct of public school officials. Based on the facts of the case, the Court upheld as reasonable a warrantless search of a student's purse by school officials. Almost 30 years later, the Supreme Court held in Riley v. California, 573 U.S. 373 (2014), that cell phones generally cannot be searched without a warrant.
How do T.L.O. and Riley impact the search of a student's cell phone by school officials on public school grounds, and how would you protect a student's rights while balancing the school's responsibility to maintain a safe and effective learning environment?
Please use personal examples and perspectives in your essay. You may consider one or more of the following questions in responding to the prompt:
- Develop a hypothetical scenario involving a warrantless search of a student's cell phone by public school officials. Do you think such a search is reasonable? Why or why not?
- Consider that schools are adopting different policies restricting student access to cell phones. Do these policies change your analysis for searching of student cell phones?
- Would you analyze a public school official's search of a student's locker or backpack differently?
- If you were a judge considering a case similar to New Jersey v. T.L.O. or Riley v. California, would you make the same ruling today? Would you include any additional considerations?
- Related cases to consider: Vernonia School District v. Acton, 515 U.S. 646 (1995) and Board of Education of Independent School District No. 92 v. Earls, 536 U.S. 822 (2002) (random drug testing of public high school athletes did not violate the reasonable search and seizure clause of the Fourth Amendment)
JUNIORS: Ellison Scholars, University of Oxford (Full Scholarship)
We are searching far and wide for exceptionally talented individuals to join our second cohort of Ellison Scholars. If you demonstrate outstanding academic achievements and a deep commitment to addressing global challenges through science, technology and engineering, we encourage you to apply.
Ellison Scholars receive full funding for undergraduate or graduate (PhD / DPhil) studies at the University of Oxford, covering course fees, a generous living stipend and the equivalent of paid internships.
Undergraduate applications open on 1 May with a deadline of 31 July. Read on to learn how to best prepare your application.
Guide to Performing & Visual Arts Colleges and Programs
If you see your future in the arts, now’s the time to start shaping it. Whether you're drawn to the stage, studio, screen, or something in between, the right resources and opportunities can set you on a path to a creative, fulfilling career.
Teen Life's Guide to Performing & Visual Arts Colleges & Programs is here to help you explore options with confidence. This free guide is packed with insights to help you take the next step—from building your portfolio to finding the perfect program fit.
Summer Programs
It's the time of year to start signing up! The site linked below is certainly not exhaustive, but we have tried to include what we can. If a link on the page doesn't work . . . google it. Many of the links change every year and it is impossible to keep up.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol Summer Program
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol (NCSHP) offers a high school internship program designed to provide students with hands-on experience in public safety careers, offering a 40-hour program with non-enforcement duties and professional standards.
The program takes 5 students from each school.
Deadline: June 10 (when the 5 slots are filled, no more applications will be accepted)
Dates: June 22-27, 2025
Log into the Competition/Scholarship Google Classroom for more information and to access the info & application.
Youth Entrepreneurship Program
The camp is FREE and from Monday, July 14th to Thursday, July 17th from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and Friday, July 18th from 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. The camp is called Young Entrepreneurship Program (YEP) and YEP focuses on high school students (ages 13-17 years old).
• Lunch will be provided everyday around noon each day excluding Friday.
• Please review the link below to submit the application and review the program’s website.
Point of contact: Jane Bailey, Program Director, baileyj@uncw.edu
https://uncw.edu/academics/colleges/csb/points-of-excellence/youth-entrepreneur-program
YEP participants will:
• Explore and leverage talents useful for team building and leadership development.
• Understand basic concepts of entrepreneurship and learn about resources in the local area and at UNCW.
• Hear inspiring talks from local experts.
• Engage with college students and UNCW faculty/staff.
• Dine at UNCW (included)
YEP offers week long day sessions for high school students to learn the elements of starting a small business, you'll learn things such as:
• Knowing yourself and your strengths
• How to judge and attract talent
• How to let others know about your business
• Knowing the language of business
College Info / New Info for Seniors / Scholarships
Volunteer/Leadership Opportunities
UNCW’s closet cleanout is looking for volunteers!
Closet Clean Out is an opportunity for students moving out of the residence halls to donate their unwanted food, clothing, household goods, and much more instead of throwing it away.
We will place storage containers near the residence halls to collect material from 4/28-5/12. These containers are open daily, so students can load in their donations. Staff and volunteers then unload, sort, separate, and prepare them for donation to various local non-profits.
Teen Book Reviews
Volunteer virtually by submitting reviews to their Teen Book Reviews page. If you would like your review to count toward volunteer service hours, please fill out this virtual volunteer form first, if you have not already.
This page will give teen patrons the chance to share their thoughts with others on the books, graphic novels, and manga they read - and also provide them with the opportunity to earn virtual volunteer hours, if they so choose.
Quick Info:
- Teens can submit book reviews without becoming a virtual volunteer, but those who would like to receive credit for their reviews will need to apply to become a virtual volunteer first.
- Eligibility wise, to submit reviews, teens will need to be in grades 6-12 and have a New Hanover County Library card: CLASS Project, student ID numbers count. 😊 (every student at NHCS has this account already where their library card is their student number)
- Teens will earn 1.5 service hours for each review submitted (the average going rate among other public library systems that have similar programs in place).
- This opportunity to virtually volunteer will complement the NHCPL current in-person teen volunteer option, not replace it.
If you have any questions, feel free to email Ezra Letson, YA Library Associate, at eletson@nhcgov.com
Cape Fear River Watch - 2nd Saturday Clean-Up
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.
Gifted Advisory Council
The 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 2022-2025 AIG Plan. The council provides perspectives, information, and independent initiatives that are not shared through regular NHCS AIG communications. Please use the link below to join the GAC's mailing list for newsletters and other information for how to support your student and their school's AIG program.
The meetings are from 6-7pm at the Spencer Boardroom, 1805 s. 15th Street.
May 19th
Please use the link below to join the GAC's mailing list for newsletters and other information for how to support your student and their school's AIG program.
Jennifer Crudeli
Email: jennifer.crudeli@nhcs.net
AHS Office: 405
Hoggard Office: 104B