Below are the Summer Opportunities that were featured in our Summer Opportunities Workshop on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010:

2009-2010 Durham/Duke Job Opportunities Program

The Job Opportunities Program (now in its 2^nd full year in Durham) seeks to provide professional skill development, mentoring, and coaching to highly motivated high school students looking to start a professional career with a Durham-area internship. The program is sponsored by MBA students at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business.

How to apply:

Students can apply via e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . There are 3 parts to the application: 

1. Complete Student Profile and Short Essay
2. Teacher Recommendation Form
3. Parent/Guardian Consent Form (email from parents, or give a printed copy to teacher)

Reminder: Applications are due by January 25th!

Click Here to download an application 

University of North Carolina Medical Science Enrichment Network Pre-College Program (UNC MSEN)

The goal of the NC-MSEN Pre-College Program is to broaden the pool of students pursuing mathematics and science-based majors and careers. The Pre-College Program actively recruits and prepares students in grades 6-12 who have not been sufficiently exposed to mathematics and science courses. Students participate in academic enrichment activities and associated teachers receive intensive in-service training.

Activities include: a daily elective class at select middle schools participating in the program; activities to guide students toward educational and career objectives; role model speakers and field trips; independent study groups; academic enrichment tutoring; a Summer Scholars Program (three weeks of math/science projects, computer training, problem solving exercises and accelerated English courses); Pre-College Research Experience Program (six weeks of summer research experience under the guidance and direction of a research scientist); student leadership skills development; the MSEN Saturday Academy (a 10-16 week period) to further develop skills in mathematics, science, and communication skills, recognition awards, mathematics and science competitions, and parent involvement.

North Carolina AHEC Health Careers and Workforce Diversity Program

The mission of the North Carolina AHEC Program is to meet the state’s health and health workforce needs by providing educational programs in partnership with academic institutions, health care agencies, and other organizations committed to improving the health of the people of North Carolina. Featured programs and activities include:

Health Careers Saturday Academy: Middle school and high school students participate in exciting workshops related to health careers that provide academic and professional growth. Activities include:  hands-on health and science workshops, interactions with health care professionals, SAT prep course, CPR certification, resume writing and interviewing skills, college recruitment fair, and health careers enrichment workshops.

Carolina Visions Summer Camp: High school students participate in a one-week residential program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. They visit health care professionals at the Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, Nursing, Allied Health, Dentistry and Public Health. A variety of team building and leadership activities also take place at the camp.

Exploration Station: On Track to a Health Career: Middle school students spend three days following a  mock patient story in the hospital to learn about health careers and interact with various health care professionals.

Health Careers Advisory Committee: The Health Careers Advisory Committee includes representatives from public school systems, educators, health care professionals, parents, and community leaders from the Wake AHEC region. This committee helps identify student needs and suggests strategies for implementing health careers activities.

Health Careers Scholars Recognition Program: Students who complete 60 hours of Wake AHEC Health Careers activities are designated as Health Career Scholars. Health Career Scholars receive special recognition and are invited to attend special activities related to health care. 

Outreach Activities: Wake AHEC collaborates with the public school systems and other organizations by participating in career fairs, business alliances, classroom presentations, and facilitating clinical learning experiences for students enrolled in health science academies or Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) programs at area high schools. 

North Carolina House Page Program

The North Carolina House Page Program offers youth from across the State the opportunity to see firsthand how laws are made by participating in the legislative process. Young men and women participate in daily sessions, committee meetings and perform other duties. Their participation is vital to the operation of the General Assembly.

Application Procedures: A student may write or telephone their Representative and request sponsorship and an application to serve as a Page. After the application is completed, it is returned to the Representative for his or her signature.

Appointment Procedures: Appointments are made on a first-come, first-served basis. When a young person is selected to serve as a Page during a particular week, the Speaker of the House will send a letter notifying the student of the appointment and additional information about serving as a Page.

Work Schedule: Pages report to the House Page Office on Monday of the week they are to serve at 1:30 p.m. They will be on duty Monday evening, Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and on Thursday from 8:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. During weeks with holidays, Pages will be notified the week prior to serving if there is a change in the regular schedule.

Participant Requirements:

• have permission from a parent or guardian;
• be between the ages of 15 and 18 (or currently be in the ninth grade);
• be in good academic standing at their schools and have prior approval of the principal if serving during the school year; and
• be sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives.

Dress Code: Appropriate business attire is required of all House Pages. Young men are required to wear dress slacks, coats and ties at all times they are on duty. Young women must wear dresses, pantsuits, dress slacks or skirts with blouses. Flat, comfortable shoes are preferred. Pages are sent a detailed description of appropriate dress when they are appointed to serve. Any Page who does not comply with the dress code will not be allowed to participate and could be sent home.

Accommodations: It is the responsibility of the Page’s parent or guardian to make lodging arrangements prior to coming to Raleigh. Pages may stay with family, friends or host families. Host families provide lodging, breakfast, dinner, and transportation at a cost of $100 per week.

Compensation: Pages are paid a stipend of $150 per week to help pay expenses or in lieu of payment, receive 30 hours of community service in accordance with their school’s community service policy. 

NC State Shelton Youth Leadership Challenge

The Shelton Challenge is a six-day residential experience to help students expand their knowledge and skills of what it takes to be a leader. Students will participate in activities that will help them have a greater understanding for: Personal Leadership Assessment and Interpersonal Dynamics; Role of Values and Ethics in Leadership; Leadership Traits and Approaches; Teambuilding and Empowering Others; Civic and Social Responsibility; and Goal Setting.

Students also have the opportunity to participate in team building activities, low and high ropes courses, service project, and fun night activities to help students get to know others participating in the program.

The Shelton Challenge seeks youth who are going into the 9th to 12th grades (graduating seniors included) with a 3.0 grade point average (unweighted) or higher.

The Shelton Leadership Center seeks to provide hands-on activities that assist developing young leaders to become more confident leaders back in their communities.

Click Here to download an application 

UNC Financial Futures Foundation

The Financial Futures Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 with the purpose of identifying, nurturing, and motivating minority or female high school students who may have career interests in the field of financial services but lack exposure to the industry. The Foundation recognizes the challenges that face minorities and females in the industry and believes that it is well positioned to address these issues.

Where does it all start? To implement programs that target this under-represented population, the Foundation graduated its first class of Financial Futures/Kenan-Flagler Youth Institute participants in June 2007. The Financial Futures Foundation prepares minority and female students for their future.

The Financial Futures Foundation understands the value of mentorship and seeks to carry on this tradition by giving back to young people who might otherwise never be exposed to the financial services industry. Our goal is to identify these talented minority students, open new doors to future opportunities, cultivate the “pipeline” of minorities and women in the field and drive towards a better balance of social equity among race and gender.

• Introduction to the world of financial services, ethics, entrepreneurship, teamwork, communication, business and the economy
• Business Field Study – Last year, students toured an American Express Service Center, where they met with company executives and other senior level managers.

Program Profile: Second week

• Job Shadowing
• Closing Recognition Luncheon

“We know that the financial services industry offers wonderful career opportunities—and that there is a shortage of women and minorities working in the field today” - Franklin E. McCain, Jr. – Executive Director, Financial Futures Foundation. 

City of Durham Mayor’s Summer Youth Work Program

The Mayor’s Summer Youth Work Program offers Durham youth the opportunity to gain work experience and develop skills while connecting with City and County governments. Summer job opportunities are available in Parks and Recreation, Workforce Development, Neighborhood Improvement Services, Technology Solutions, General Services, Inspections and the Fire Department. Private sector positions are also available through a partnership with Question Why, Measurement Inc., the Durham Workforce Development Board, SunTrust Bank, Kroger Foods, Office Depot, Durham Technical Community College and North Carolina Central University. 

NC A&T State University Research Apprenticeship Program

RAP is a four-week residential program for current high school juniors and seniors. Its main objective is to stimulate interest in careers in the food, agricultural, family and consumer sciences. Through the program, students will gain first-hand experience in research conducted under the direction of SAES research scientists. The research projects range from landscape architecture to fashion merchandising and design. RAP Students also gain exposure to a number of structured activities, including field trips, workshops and laboratory demonstrations, instruction on computer applications, technical and scientific writing and public presentations.

Click Here to download an application