If you would like to schedule a 1:1 meeting with Ms. Mauk, this is her schedule this week:

Laney - Monday and Tuesday

NHHS - Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday

You Can Book Me

A quick reminder that Mauk is hosting College Resume Building sessions during Flex on March 11 and March 25. This is open to any junior whether they are AIG or not, so invite your friends. Sign up in FLEX-time Manager to attend.

As we barrel through 2nd semester, we need to set our sights on ensuring your schedules are solid for next year. We also need to begin talking about college application season which will be upon us as soon as we come back in the fall. We will meet in small groups to finalize your schedules and AIG blueprints to accurately reflect what courses you have requested for senior year. These meetings are required for AIG identified students.

Please fill out this form to select which date/time works best for your schedule.

The STEM Next Opportunity Fund is launching the application process for its fourth Flight Crew cohort. The Flight Crew aims to uplift young voices in STEM from across the nation to inspire their peers and demonstrate that STEM is for everyone and takes place everywhere. The Flight Crew is a highly visible youth ambassador program of STEM Next, elevating youth from every state who can speak about the power of STEM learning outside of school. ALL youth ages 13-18 are encouraged to apply! The selected 2025 Flight Crew will enroll in 9 months of virtual programming providing communications and advocacy support, mentorship, access to role models and an elite alumni network.

Youth will discuss:

· Their first-hand and meaningful STEM experiences occurring outside the classroom

· The challenges they have faced and overcome, their desire to address community issues, and how they inspire their peers' interest in STEM.

· Their experiences in building STEM skills through teamwork and problem-solving.

· Their ability to connect STEM experiences to real-life situations and STEM careers.

Selected Flight Crew members will exemplify a STEM mindset, be committed to enhancing afterschool STEM learning to create a brighter future for youth everywhere, and serve as youth ambassadors for OST STEM and STEM career pathways. Applicants must be actively engaged in an out-of-school STEM program, like afterschool programs, programs on the weekends, or virtual experiences that meet more than once a year.

Applications will be accepted until March 12, 2025.

We hold an essay contest every year to give students an opportunity to express themselves and win great prizes. This year, we’re giving away over $12,000—and we have prizes for teachers, too!

We have four topics to choose from, so students and teachers can find the subject that fits them best. Our contest is open to students in grades 5-12, age 10-18, residing in North America, Hawaii, or at a U.S. military address. The deadline to submit is 11:59PM Eastern on Friday, March 21, 2025. Students may submit their essays to us directly, or have them submitted by a teacher or parent.

Winners will be announced on May 30, 2025. For topics and complete rules, see below.

Boys State and Girls State participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county and state governments. Operated by students elected to various offices, Boys State activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, choruses and recreational programs.

Boys State - Scan the QR code to complete the online application and someone will contact you to interview.

Girls State - Scan the QR code to join the Google Classroom (code: 7vqvgrq), complete the paper application, and follow instructions to contact Shirley Gerrior to set up an interview on March 10 or April 14.

Shoot Like a Girl, a Wilmington-based, summer program focused on workforce development for high school girls. Our curriculum is dedicated to giving them the skills and confidence to become future filmmakers.

Looking to connect with any students who have an interest in storytelling, film, photography, theatre and the arts in general. Camp is led by award-winning industry professionals and is centered on hands-on experience. It is an intensive film-making summer day camp.

Learn more and get inspired by our programs in this 2-minute video.

Engage In Global Food Security: Through NC State's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and North Carolina 4-H, along with national partners, high school youth are invited to explore these tremendous opportunities that will challenge them to explore our world and consider what it means to be a global citizen and the role they can play in making our best, better.

All high school youth are invited to join us for the 2025 North Carolina Youth Institute, an exceptional opportunity that ignites a passion for solving global hunger through an engaging exploration of agriculture and food systems.

The North Carolina Youth Institute is an educational initiative of the World Food Prize Foundation and is designed to spark emerging leaders in developing innovative solutions for our world’s most pressing grand challenges surrounding feeding a growing population. Register now and read more here.

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

The Summer Teen Volunteer Program itself will run from Sunday, June 15th-Monday, August 9th. Summer Teens are expected to volunteer for 50 hours for the summer at the Aquarium. This is about 8 hours per week and usually consists of 2 4-hour shifts, but we are flexible about what would work best with your schedule. Participants will also be required to attend 3 learning opportunities throughout the program. These opportunities will be both on and offsite. Examples include shadowing husbandry team members at the Aquarium, touring Carolina Beach State Park with a ranger to learn about park maintenance and fire suppression, and beach clean-ups in our community. You are allowed to attend more than 3 of these programs.

The Summer Camp Counselor in Training Program will run from Monday, June 16th-Friday, August 15th. This program is for current or new NCAFF teen volunteers. Counselors in Training support NCAFF staff during summer camps (2-week requirement). Duties include assisting with crafts, including setup, help during the crafts, and cleanup, assisting with games or activities, storytime for younger campers, assisting with lunch set up, serving, and cleanup, including helping load and unload the dishwasher, making lemonade, cleaning off tables, sweeping the floor, taking out compost, trash, and/or recycling, and assisting with equipment cleanup.

*Registration for both programs will run from Monday, 3/17- Monday, 4/28*

Apply and Info HERE

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.

High school students gain the computer science skills they need to make an impact and prepare for tech careers in our free, virtual Summer Programs. With two program options to choose from, beginner to advanced coders can develop valuable skills, find community, and build their professional networks at a pace and format that works best for them.

website for Pre-College Programs.

At NC State, we believe it is never too early for students to start shaping their paths to success. We offer a variety of pre-college programs that provide a taste of college life, allow students to explore their academic interests and gain valuable skills while experiencing NC State's vibrant campus atmosphere in Raleigh, NC.

Programs ranging from athletics to college readiness are available, depending on student interests. Dates, deadlines and location vary according to individual program.

We encourage you to explore the site for programs that interest you.

Boston University Summer Journalism Academy offers students hands-on experience in reporting, writing, and storytelling. Taught by award-winning journalists, it’s a great opportunity for students to build valuable skills for college and beyond.

We offer on-campus (June 23–July 11) and online options (June 16, June 30, July 13) and early applicants can save $200–$400 by applying before March 2.

View Flyer

This one-week program is designed for current high school juniors, offering them a unique opportunity to experience life as a Cadet at West Point. The action-packed week will be both challenging and rewarding, with participants taking part in:

• Four hands-on academic workshops selected from 17 different options, taught by West Point faculty.

• Physical and mental challenges, including indoor and outdoor obstacle courses, intramurals, and the Candidate Fitness Assessment.

• Leadership and character development through team challenges, the Leader Reaction Course, and ethics discussions led by West Point Cadets.

Check out the SLE 2024 VIDEO to learn more about the experience.

Students can choose between two SLE sessions:

• May 31 – June 6

• June 7 – June 13

Applications for SLE open on February 15, and selections will be made on a rolling basis starting March 15. Completing this application also fulfills the first portion of the application to West Point.

West Point provides scholarships to cover the costs of SLE fees and travel expenses for students who have proven financial need.

Learn more here: West Point Summer Leader Experience

Apply to SLE: SLE Application

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.

Future GAC meeting dates:

March 17

April 7

May 19

All meetings are from 6:00-7:00pm at the Spencer Board Room at 1805 S. 15th Street

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.

Information about these opportunities was provided in previous newsletters. Check the archive to get more details and links to registration/applications.

• Project Uplift - March 14
• NYT Info Writing Contest 99-12) - March 15
• Stossel Essay contest (5-12) - March 21
• Wilmington Road Runners Scholarship (12) - March 21
• UNCF STEM Scholars Program - March 24
• O'Connor Institute Ambassadors Online Civics & Debate Club (9-12) - March 29
• NC Design Camp (10-12) - April 11

All previous Scholarship Newsletters are archived here.

Email: reagan.mauk@nhcs.net

NHHS Office: 501

Laney Office: 401 in media center