2026 Oratory Competition

 

See the 2025 Orator Champion HERE

LeadWISER Mentorship Program

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

This school year, we are excited to host the second annual 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.

We 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. Our application deadline is January 7th at 11:59 pm. Apply HERE

NCSSM Summer Accelerator 2026 courses open for registration!

Looking for an amazing summer experience? Come join us at Summer Accelerator! Programs will run June 8-July 24 on NCSSM's Durham and Morganton campuses for rising 5th- through 12th-graders. Now accepting applications – hurry, spots fill up fast!

Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)

The summer 2026 Duke University Neuroscience Experience (DUNE)! DUNE is a full-time, 8-week, paid summer research internship program (June 15 – August 7) for Durham high school students. DUNE’s mission is to provide students with scientific skills, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to position them for success in STEM fields. Summer 2026 will be the sixth year of DUNE!

 

High school students can apply online from December 15, 2025 – February 8, 2026. Two (2) letters of recommendation from non-relatives are also required. To apply, students must:

• Be a current sophomore or junior (grades 10-11 for the 2025-2026 school year); and
• Attend a public or charter high school in Durham, NC.

 

Scholarship Resource for Students

 

The CACRAO Professional Access & Equity (PAE) Committee’s has ongoing efforts to support students during college application season. Securing financial aid is critical for students, especially after they receive their college acceptances.    Please see the CACRAO Scholarship Directory resources that are accessible HERE. It includes a comprehensive list of universities, colleges and technical colleges across the Carolinas, each with a hyperlink to their respective scholarship page.

Scholarships for High School Seniors

 

If you’re going to college, your senior year of high school will be filled with a long to-do list. You’ll have to apply to college, sort through financial aid information and decide what school to attend - on top of finishing your high school education.

In the midst of that chaos, applying for scholarships can get lost in the shuffle. However, while they may seem like an afterthought, scholarships are absolutely crucial if you want to reduce your college costs.

In the following articles, see how to find and apply to scholarships for high school seniors.

Jump to:

• About scholarships for high school seniors
• 25 Best Scholarships for High School Seniors
• Well-known scholarships for high school seniors
• Find less competitive scholarships for high school seniors
• Where to find scholarships for high school seniors
• How to apply for scholarships for high school seniors
• Frequently asked questions about scholarships for high school seniors

Horatio Alger Scholarship Application is OPEN

 While most other scholarships focus exclusively on academic achievement or leadership potential, Horatio Alger Scholarships are also intended for promising students who have critical financial need, demonstrate integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, and are determined to succeed.

Horatio Alger Association administers over 70 scholarship programs, offering opportunities for students in various stages of their academic careers to achieve their educational goals and realize their potential.

The Horatio Alger Association awards scholarships to students who are facing and overcoming significant adversities. The Adversity section provides an opportunity for applicants to share the types of adversities they have experienced in their life. We encourage applications to be as detailed as possible so that the selection committee has a clear picture of their individual circumstances.

Learn more about how to apply:

HERE