Duke WISER supports the WISER Kenya school and plans events to support secondary education, leadership, and advocacy in the Triangle area. 

This year, they are excited to host the LeadWISER Mentorship Conference, which includes a 9-week virtual mentorship program for high school students. Participants will work closely with Duke student mentors to develop a research project and community-based initiative on a topic of their choice, including but not limited to sustainability, women’s health, education or public policy. The program will culminate in an in-person poster presentation and leadership conference in late March/early April.

They are currently accepting rolling applications from high school students for the mentorship program, which begins on January 18th. All high school students are welcome to apply. The application deadline is January 7th at 11:59 pm. 

Application link: https://forms.gle/xZpUzfwEbANcVdv17 

The Organization of Latino Actuaries (OLA) is excited to share an opportunity for students to participate in Desafiando el Riesgo, a nationwide virtual math case competition.

This competition invites high school students to apply their math, analytical, and problem-solving skills to a real-world scenario involving risk management. It’s a great way for students to explore actuarial science and related STEM fields while developing teamwork, communication, and data-driven decision-making skills.

💡 Why participate?

• You’ll gain exposure to exciting, math-based career paths.

• You’ll build valuable analytical and presentation skills.

• You’ll compete for scholarship prizes, including a $3,000 Grand Prize and Travel Sponsorship to the 2026 OLA Avanza Conference (Location TBD).

The competition is open to all 10th-12th grade high school students in the U.S. and its territories during the 2025–2026 academic year. Students will have two weeks to research, analyze, and present their recommendations.

Learn more and register here!

The Emily K Center’s Game Plan: Future program is excited to announce its fourth annual Bull City in Black: HBCU Showcase! This event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 7th, from 12 PM - 3 pm at the Emily K Center in Durham, NC, and this year they are excited to partner with 100 Black Men of the Triangle East and Thomas Mentor Leadership Academy! This event will celebrate the history and enduring legacy of historically black colleges and universities across the state and region. Additionally, there will be community-based organizations sharing valuable information on many of the community resources in Bull City.  

• Students interested in participating in this event can click here to register now.

• Full details and registration can be found at https://www.emilyk.org/hbcu 

Through R.I.S.E. (Readiness in Sports Education), students gain practical experience in sports marketing and media. This program equips them to craft compelling content for their school’s website and social media channels, fostering creativity and real-world skills.

Click here to sign up!

Real Talk is a career and college exploration initiative designed to connect Black students and families with Black professionals and representatives from colleges and access organizations across the country. They empower Black students to own their future, their way. 

If you are looking for opportunities to enrich your skills this summer, the CFNC Student Enrichment Programs Search Tool is the place to start. Many organizations across the state offer fun educational programs for students of all ages on a range of topics. Check it out here!

The Summer Training in Academic Research (STAR) Program provides a high-quality research experience for high school students, undergraduate students, and medical students during the summer academic break.

The five-week in-person program will give participants interested in science and medicine real hands-on experience in research methodology and writing. Participants are placed in teams and matched with Duke faculty mentors to work on an original, hypothesis-driven project, originating as a one-page summary and culminating in a complete research paper. A goal of the program is to have every participant qualify for co-authorship on a peer-reviewed manuscript related to their team’s project.

The STAR Program is held at the Duke Clinical Research Institute in Durham, N.C., which has organized educational and support programs for junior faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students as well as high school and college students. Participants receive a stipend to attend, which makes the program an option even for students who plan to work over the summer break.

The mission of The Triangle Nonprofit & Volunteer Center is to strengthen the Triangle community by mobilizing volunteers, empowering and supporting non-profits, enhancing community leadership and involvement, engaging and developing corporate partnerships, and coordinating vital human services for the Department of Social Services.

They offer multiple summer programs for high school students:

• IMPACT Camp provides Triangle high school students with a local week-long summer service experience. Together, a diverse cohort of participants learn about the issues facing their community by visiting different community organizations, working on a variety of service projects, hearing from community leaders, and engaging in reflection activities. 

• CELI is an intensive week-long summer enrichment experience that empowers high school students to impact Triangle communities through socially conscious thought and action. By exploring the root causes of social issues, working with nonprofit agencies, and creating capstone service projects, students develop the knowledge, skills, values, and motivation to help shape the future of the Triangle and beyond. One capstone project has the option to become fully funded and implemented should the student choose to do so.  

• In an adapted Model UN simulation, students take on the role of UN ambassadors and learn the fundamentals of diplomatic debate. Students think critically, act collaboratively, and develop solutions to today's most pressing global challenges. The Center is partnering with UNC-Chapel Hill's own Model United Nations club and Duke Corporate Education to facilitate this week. 

Looking to volunteer or in need of community service/volunteer hours? The Triangle Area has so many wonderful places to spend your time at and give back to the community. Look through these opportunities and find the right fit for you! 

From the NCSSM website:

North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics equips students with the skills and knowledge they need to design their futures. For more than 40 years, our school has been opening doors of opportunity for talented young North Carolinians from every part of the state through our residential school option for 11th- and 12th-graders on our original Durham campus. In the fall of 2022, our second campus opened atop a ridge in Morganton, ultimately expanding the opportunity to 300 more students each year.

Something transformative happens when we gather a critical mass of highly motivated and diverse high school students with equally accomplished, credentialed, and diverse faculty in these living-learning communities. Our 11,000 alumni have become global leaders in technology, commerce, medicine, education, and the arts – a community of real-world problem solvers who build a brighter future. Could this be the opportunity that helps you become one, too?

Click here to learn more!

Click here to learn more about the application process to NCSSM.  The application process for the Class of 2028 will open on October 15, 2025, and close on  January 5, 2026, at 11:59 PM. 

Please include me, Ms. Maureen Kurz (maureen_kurz@dpsnc.net), as your counselor in the application portal, as I will be completing the counselor recommendations for NCSSM applications.  It is ALWAYS a good idea to email or talk to the person from whom you are requesting a recommendation, so stop by Student Services to see me!