NEWS and/or Upcoming Events:

NHCS is working on webpage with helpful resources for students and parents. It is still a work in progress, but you can view it here: Student Resources - New Hanover County Schools. 

Applications for Governor's School are now open.

The Governor’s School of North Carolina is the oldest statewide summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students in the nation. The program is administered by the State Board of Education and North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI) through the Office of Advanced Learning & Gifted Education. Each summer, selected students are invited to Governor’s School to help build a learning community during a four-week residential session. Students are encouraged to explore and ask questions, with the purpose of learning for its own sake and discovering new possibilities that complement their high school instruction, without the regular pressures of tests, scores, and grade point averages. The Governor’s School emphasizes collaborative efforts in all disciplines. Students go through a local and state nomination process. Students are nominated locally at the district level or at the school level, if at a charter or non-public school. Each district/school has its own process to determine nominees for NCDPI at the state level. 

For more information and eligibility criteria, click HERE

Applications are due to Mrs. Appleton by October 24th at 3 pm. 

• Congressional Essay Contest sponsored each year by the National Society of the Colonial Dames

• UNCW Upward Bound Math and Science Program 

Eligibility Requirements: 

1. Families who may meet the federal government’s established low-income guidelines 

2. Students who may be a potential first-generation college student (both parents do not have a 4-year bachelor's degree) 

3. Students with 2.5 or higher high school GPA 

4. Students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents 

5. Students who attend a public high school in New Hanover or Brunswick counties 

Application for UNCW's UBMS_24.25.docx 

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities:

Trask Family Farms in Castle Hayne is excited to offer opportunities for your students this fall from September 20 – November 2.

Every weekend is a festival weekend, welcoming thousands of visitors each day to enjoy our corn maze, hayrides, flower fields, and various other events. Student volunteers play an important role in making these events possible, while gaining leadership skills, teamwork experience, and community involvement.

👉 If your students are interested in volunteer hours, they can sign up directly using our Google form here

In addition, we are also offering a Fall Internship for students who may be more interested in hands-on, job-style work. Please note that the internship is paid work rather than volunteer hours. 

Volunteer at Wesley Memorial’s Pumpkin Patch, a long-standing Wilmington tradition that brings the community together each fall. Volunteering at the Patch is a great way for students to give back to the community while also earning service hours.

Volunteer opportunities include:

• Helping customers select and price pumpkins

• Assisting families with wagons and loading pumpkins

• Organizing and arranging displays

• Offering to take photos for families

• Supporting patch operations as needed

Shifts are flexible, and we welcome individuals as well as groups. Adults will be present during every shift, and students will have the chance to meet new people, work as a team, and experience the joy of serving their community.

If your students are interested, they can sign up for shifts at this link: https://www.welcometowesleyumc.org/pumpkin-patch. If you have any questions or need more information, please contact us at pumpkins@welcometowesleyumc.org or 910-791-4092.

We’re incredibly grateful for our volunteers—without them, the Patch would not be the Wilmington tradition that it is. We’d love to see your students out in the Patch this season!

🎃

-The Pumpkin Patch Team @ Wesley Memorial UMC 

• The NHC Arboretum will be hosting its annual Art Show Reception from October 10–12, 2025, and they are inviting student volunteers to help out during the Friday evening reception (October 10) from 5pm-8pm.

Students will assist as waitstaff, helping serve food to artists and guests during the event. 

This is a wonderful chance to get involved with the community, support a local arts event, and fulfill service hour requirements in a fun setting.

If you're interested in volunteering or would like more details, please let me know as soon as possible. 

• Educational Partners,

We would love to invite your students, faculty, and staff to volunteer at the Cape Fear Buddy Walk® on Saturday, October 4, 2025, at Legion Stadium in Wilmington. This event celebrates inclusion, raises awareness for individuals with Down syndrome, and directly supports local programs for families through Coastal BUDS across Southeastern NC.

This is an excellent opportunity for students to:

• Earn community service hours

• Support a significant community event with 1,000+ attendees

• Walk for a cause

• Be part of a fun, family-friendly day full of music, games, and celebration

We need volunteers of all ages and skill levels—there is a role for everyone!

Volunteer Sign-Up Form.

Volunteer at the Wilmington Historic Half, 10K & 5K 

Date: Dec. 6th

Time: Time slots are on website sign up page

Sign up: runwilmington.com

Lots of opportunity to volunteer at the finish line handing out water bottles, bananas, finisher medals, etc as well as on course cheering and helping with direction. It's a fun morning!