This page was created to share information about year round and summer educational opportunities and more. Please check back often as new content will continue to be added. 

Please share your thoughts/questions with ​Tom Neff, tneff@ncmcs.org.

College Information

The College Tour - Link 

Find out information about every college, including the 2,500 four-year universities and colleges and the 900 community colleges that span across all 50 states. Check out the “Featured Schools” tours to get a more in-depth, video-based experience.

The College Board  - College Search

Free Essay Writing workshop - Parents/students can register using this link. 

2027 Dates not available yet: 

Ongoing Programs

Teen Volunteer Program @ FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital

The goal of the Teen Volunteer Program is to provide high school students exposure to a hospital setting and an opportunity to give back to their community. FirstHealth Volunteer Services offers summer and school year sessions. We aim for our sessions to be quarterly. The sessions are subject to change based on the need of the hospital. The FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital Teen Program is a volunteer opportunity and is not an internship or shadow experience. We schedule your volunteer time according to your schedule. To participate, you must be a High School Student (Ages 15+ through the summer after graduation) and have transportation.If you are interested in becoming a teen volunteer email Karen DeCata at kdecata@firsthealth.org or call Volunteer Services at (910) 715-1266.  Teen Volunteer Application Form - Application 

Programs

The Science and Engineering Apprenticeship Program (SEAP) places high school students in Department of Navy (DoN) laboratories where they take part in real Naval research for eight weeks during the summer. SEAP gives academically talented sophomores, juniors, and seniors interested in STEM the opportunity to learn about Naval research and technology while receiving first-class mentoring by top scientists and engineers. SEAP is a competitive program with around 300 placements in more than 38 laboratories around the country in which many participants go on to careers within the DoN. Interns are selected based upon academic achievement, personal statements, recommendations, and career and research interests.  https://www.navalsteminterns.us/internships/seap/  Application deadline is November 30th, 2026.  

Leadership Initiatives - Programs that provide motivated high school students with experiential internships in the fields of law, business, medicine, cybersecurity, AI, and national security while staying on campus at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.  Summer 2027 information has not been posted yet.  https://li2025.org/all-programs/

US Senate Page Program- Introduces students from diverse backgrounds to many interesting and challenging experiences in the nation’s capital. Living away from home with students from across the country allows pages to experience a myriad of new ideas and perspectives as well as develop skills in communication and compromise. Pages learn the value of public service while meeting some of our nation’s most prominent leaders and witnessing firsthand the political debates of the United States Senate.  https://pageprogram.senate.gov/page-program/

North Carolina School for Science & Math Summer Ventures - Cool Summer, Serious Science.

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. NCSSM Admissions 

https://www.ncssm.edu/summer/summer-ventures

North Carolina Governor's School - A four-week summer residential program for gifted and talented high school students, integrating academic disciplines, the arts, and unique courses on each of two campuses. Learning focuses on the exploration of the most recent ideas and concepts in each discipline, and it does not involve credit, tests, or grades. Students are selected to attend through a competitive process after being nominated by their public school unit or non-public school.  Questions, contact Alexis Eitel, aeitel@ncmcs.org.

https://www.dpi.nc.gov/students-families/enhanced-opportunities/north-carolina-governors-school

HOBY Youth Leadership - Our flagship program welcomes school and community nominated high school sophomores to a 3-day seminar each June. These student ambassadors participate in facilitated dialogue and abilities-based workshops to develop awareness of their leadership strengths and an understanding of their leadership values. Through these dynamic activities with their peers, students hone their skills and learn to recognize, amplify, and collaborate with the diverse strengths of others. Held on the UNC-Asheville campus, our program gives students a taste of college life while they dive into our engaging and FUN leadership development curriculum. One weekend at a HOBY seminar unlocks a student’s leadership potential and helps them gain the confidence to make a positive impact on the world around them.  https://hoby.org/school-nomination-kit/

Here are the details for the 2027 HOBY Leadership Seminar:

Who? One or two current Sophomore students (schools may send more upon request)

When? June 11 to June 13, 2027

Where? UNC-Asheville

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards - Interested students should email Tom Neff, tneff@ncmcs.org, a paragraph or two (no more than 500 words) describing why they want to attend the conference and what they hope to gain from it.  RYLA is a four-day, overnight leadership conference. Dates for summer of 2027 have not been published yet.   Students will be sponsored by the Southern Pines Rotary.  https://rotary7690.org/ryla/

Vanderbilt Summer Institute & Summer Academy - A variety or 1 and 2-week programs available to high school students, VSI and VSA.  

Notre Dame Pre-College Online Program - Courses in Biology, Business, Finance, Law, Psychology, & Medical Research.  Notre Dame Pre-College 

Wake Forest Summer Immersion Program - Summer 2027 Applications open now.  25 institutes.,  Wake Forest 

Elon Emerging Journalist Program - FREE!  EJP 

For students curious about what it means to be a journalist, reporting and producing news that informs communities, the Emerging Journalists Program at Elon University provides the ideal platform to explore their media interests.

This free, educational initiative is meant to inspire high school students to embark on journalism careers. The goal is to engage hundreds of high school students from around the country and provide them hands-on journalism experience. Through the program’s virtual Exposure component, students will participate in four interactive learning sessions and build foundational journalism skills.

The second phase of the program, Immersion, brings high school juniors to Elon for a summer on-campus residential learning workshop.

Additionally, students who complete the Immersion program will be assigned a mentor to help identify, report and produce multimedia stories during their senior year of high school.

High Point University Pre-College Summer Program - Application opens in January.  Program dates July 11 - 16.  www.highpoint.edu/pre-college-summer-programs/ 

NC State Pre-College Summer Programs - Summer programs (June - August) https://precollege.ncsu.edu/

Examples - STEM, Humanities and the Arts, Leadership, College Preparedness, Athletics

Georgetown University Hoya Summer - One, two & three-week academies.  https://summer.georgetown.edu/

Northwestern College Prep - Applications for Summer 2027 will open in December.  https://sps.northwestern.edu/college-preparation/

University of Virginia ADVANCE - UVA's credit-granting precollege program. It is a four-week summer residential program for highly-motivated, rising high school juniors and seniors that offers participants an opportunity to experience college life.  Financial aid application available.  summer.virginia.edu/uva-advance    

Duke University Pre-College Programs - Registration will open in December.  https://provost.duke.edu/pre-college-programs/

UNC Chapel Hill Pre-College Programs - Multiple programs available.  admissions.unc.edu/explore/pre-college-programs/ 

First Tee of the Sandhills - Summer Internship and Camp Counselors - 

These roles offer high school juniors, seniors, and college students the opportunity to gain meaningful professional experience while supporting youth development in our community. Participants will work directly with young people ages 5–13, helping teach life skills through the game of golf while developing leadership, communication, and teamwork abilities. Summer 2027 information not posted yet.  

If you are looking for Summer Programs at a specific university, check out the school's website!

Summer Job Opportunities

1. Aberdeen Parks and Recreation - Employment

• Camp Counselors - Spring Break Camp

• Camp Counselors - Summer Camp

2. Pinehurst Resort - https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0?ui=2&ik=5092e44300&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1859560587007581585&th=19ce7c8062e75d91&view=att&disp=inline&realattid=f_mmp1krad0&zw

3.  Millstone 4-H Camp - In total our staff impacts almost 750 campers per summer. Millstone 4-H Camp provides housing, meals, and all essential training. Our staff training begins May 31st-June12th, and with our last day of camp being August 7th. Perspective staff must be 18 or older. Starting pay is $600 bi weekly, and can increase if they have any relevant certifications. Our summer staff and the season are a crucial part of furthering our mission to provide campers with an experience that lasts a lifetime.  https://jobs.ncsu.edu/postings/225810