We are pleased to announce a new partnership between the UNCW Watson School of Education and Cape Fear Future to promote the importance of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) for K-12 students.

Together, WSE and CFF have developed a website of STEM programs offered in the region. This resource provides a listing of camps, field trips, after-school programs, contests, learning resources, and places to visit for STEM-related activities. We hope the STEM Resource will help facilitate teacher/parent access to STEM programs and resources, and increase student participation in STEM programs.

Please visit the new site at: http://www.uncw.edu/ed/stem/

We hope you will find the STEM Resource helpful, and help us share the link with teachers and parents in our region!

UNCW Entrepreneurship Center Presents: 2011 Economic Outlook Conference

It's that time of year again! The UNCW Entrepreneurship Center is hosting their annual Economic Outlook Conference on October 11, 2011. As the theme will be focused on global trade and regional growth in Southeastern NC, this will be an event you won’t want to miss!

More details coming soon… www.uncw.edu/eoc

For more info on the EC, check out: http://uncwec.org/

Cucalorus Film Festival Calls for Volunteers

The infamous Cucalorus Film Festival returns for its 17th year!

The Cucalorus team needs dedicated volunteers to join in the fun! The initial volunteer meeting will be an open house held at Jengo's Playhouse August 25th from 3-7pm. Volunteers are needed for screening, box office and technical departments.

For more information, please visit the volunteer open house facebook page at:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=259397314085939

If you would like more information on events, involvement, membership, sponsorships, and more visit:
http://www.cucalorus.org/

Successful Education Program May Be Cancelled Due to State Funding Cuts

"Making my way from a trailer park to Yale could not have been possible without Summer Ventures," stated Garry Reeder, a participant in a previous UNCW Summer Ventures program. One couldn’t ask for a more glowing endorsement for a program, right? But now that program is in jeopardy of being cancelled.

The 25th Annual Summer Ventures 2011 at UNCW got underway Monday, June 27th and will wrap up Saturday, July 23, possibly for the last time due to state budget cuts. UNCW is one of five NC universities to host Summer Ventures in Science and Mathematics (SVSM) Institutes administered by the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM). SVSM is a cost-free, state-funded program for academically talented students who may pursue careers based in science and mathematics.

The 4-week course of intensive study is led by university faculty and master high school teachers. The program brings rising juniors and seniors together in residential settings for four weeks of intensive study with courses designed to provide experience in scientific inquiry and mathematical problem solving. As a merit-based program, Summer Ventures is free to participating students.

"I still count that summer at UNCW as one of the most important experiences of my life,” said Robert Leandro, another UNCW SVSM participant. “Studying marine biology at SVSM opened up a whole new world of possibilities for me."

Despite this long track record of success, it's likely that 2011 will be the last year of Summer Ventures at UNCW - unless we can find a way to save it! Cape Fear Future encourages you to spread the importance of this program as it encourages and rewards high performing students while simultaneously preparing them in workforce development.

As a program serving "the best and the brightest", Summer Ventures is an investment in North Carolina's future. It's a program that should be showcased as a model of success and expanded, not eliminated. I hope you'll join our efforts to save Summer Ventures by sharing this information with others or by contacting Karen Shafer, Director, UNCW Science and Mathematics Education Center at 910-962-3168 (email: shaferk@uncw.edu) or Dr. Gabriel Lugo, Summer Ventures' Faculty Coordinator at 910-962-3246 (email: lugo@uncw.edu) to see how you can help.

What to do Downtown

Community leaders tackle downtown issues

UNCW Entrepreneurship Center Hosts ENOV8T 2011

Jonathan Rowe, director of the UNCW Entrepreneurship Center and Fran Scarlett, regional director of the UNCW Small Business & Technology Development Center will act as program directors for this year's ENOV8T. High school students are encouraged to attend this exciting event to learn more about entrepreneurship, leadership, team building skills, and starting a new business.

For additonal information and registration, see the UNCW Entrepreneurship Center Website:
http://uncwec.org/programs/enov8t/

Editorial - A new push could make Riverfront Park a star attraction

Wilmington's Riverwalk is one of the most relaxing ways to while away a lazy afternoon downtown. Now it's time to spruce up Riverfront Park. And thanks to the interest of a community group and a languishing federal grant, that may happen soon.

For full StarNews article see link below:
http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20110601/ARTICLES/110609957/1108/editorial?p=all&tc=pgall&tc=ar