The Emily K Center Opportunity Fair is a free college and career fair, highlighting pathways through community college, trade school, military, and employment. This event will feature short-term certificate and credential programs that students can earn after high school, as well as entry-level opportunities with local employers. Voyager 9th-11th grade students are invited from 1 to 2 p.m.
Additional information can be found on the following link: https://www.emilyk.org/opportunity-fair
The STAR Ventures Summer Program is a three-week, no-cost summer program for rising high school juniors, seniors, and incoming college freshmen. The program offers an immersive experience exploring careers within a research institute, including project management, research operations, communications, and data and computer science research. Students also participate in professional development activities such as resume building, networking, and team-based projects.
The program will take place July 6–24, 2026, and applications are currently open.
For your convenience, I’ve attached an updated flyer with program details. The most current information, including eligibility and the application link, can be found on our website: https://star.renci.org.
Want something impressive to put on those admission applications and resumes? Use this CFNC tool to explore summer programs, workshops, and other fun educational programs to help you prepare for college.
Check out this five-part video series on the "Hidden Curriculum" — the unspoken rules, expectations, and knowledge about how to navigate life on a college campus. It's what students are expected to know, but are rarely taught.
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Part 1 - You're In! Now What? What does it mean to be first-gen? Why does college sometimes feel like it wasn't made for you? And how can you find community, confidence, and practical tools to help you thrive once you’re there? Diana shares guidance on all of these. |
Part 2 - It's a Whole New World Diana explores why starting college can feel like entering a whole new world. Why does college feel so different from high school? How do you handle culture shock, peer pressure, or being “the only one” in the room? |
Part 3 - Learning to Learn Diana breaks down one of the biggest college transitions: learning how to learn. What’s the difference between lectures, seminars, recitations/discussions, and labs? What role does your major really play in your future? And how do you use office hours, syllabi, and campus resources to stay on top of your workload? |
Part 4 - Paying for College Diana talks about money. Not in the simple "make a budget way" but in the ways that actually matter for going to college. Grants and scholarships, subsidized and subsidized loans, student accounts, and more. |
Part 5 - What's It All For? Diana answers the big question: "Why am I doing this?" Is a college education worth it? The benefits of college for first-generation low-income students. Ways to make your degree even more worthwhile. Pathways for after college. And more. |
The Men’s College Scholarship application is easy to complete and has no essay component. Applicants have the chance to receive a $500-$1,000 scholarship to help them feel better prepared for their next big adventure: college. Encourage your students to apply today!
Available to any male graduating high school senior who is enrolling in a four-year undergraduate college program commencing in fall 2026, more than $50,000 in scholarships will be awarded to inspire young men to attend college and feel prepared financially to do so. Scholarships will be issued via ACH transfer directly to recipients — not their institution.
Jill, we feel a college education is important and want to assist young men who make the choice to attend. Please share this easy, no-essay application with your students and their parents/guardians today! The deadline for applications is April 1 at 11:59 pm ET (8:59 pm PT).
The Emily K Center invites high school students and their families to attend and learn more alternative postsecondary options!
BULL CITY IN BLACK: HBCU Showcase celebrates the history and enduring legacy of historically black colleges and universities from across the state and region. The Emily K Center hosts representatives and student organizations from HBCUs who share information about admissions opportunities. There are also workshops covering topics such as financial aid, first-gen student experience, resume support, and more!
This event is FREE and open to all — high school students and their families are strongly encouraged to attend. Bull City in Black 2026 will take place on February 7th! Registration now available here.
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
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:
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.
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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.
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:
The Emily K Center will be hosting a new event called:
Black Futures Forward. This event is for middle & high school students and families in Durham. Students will have the opportunity to interact with local colleges, community organizations, recent college grads and attend workshops to learn about mental health strategies, financial aid options for college & more!
CEG's Hidden Curriculum Series 
