Greetings Ashley,

Today we're celebrating another first at NCSSM-Morganton as we proudly unveil the design of our new athletics mascot. While our campuses are united as one big NCSSM family, they are distinct when it comes to sports.

Back in November, the inaugural class of NCSSM-Morganton voted and the dragon was chosen. Since that time, I have been proud to serve on a committee alongside a number of dedicated students, alumni, and employees as we brought the dragon to life. We revealed the design to our students and employees this past week to resounding applause and excitement.

While some may have felt that the process was 'dragon on a bit too long, I was so pleased and proud to see the leadership and ownership that our students invested in this work on top of the many other demands on their time. Not to be outdone by the students, I'm hard at work as well with new puns and phrases taking flight on a daily basis. Our students are fired up as they tip the scales and prepare to bring the thunder (a group of dragons) in our upcoming games, meets, and matches!

In all seriousness, we are inspired every day by the legacy of our institution and the 12,000+ unicorn alumni and countless employees and champions who made our school what it is today. We are so proud to be part of this growing family and appreciative of our community of supporters, like you, who provide the wind beneath our wings.

Go Dragons!!

Kevin Baxter

Vice Chancellor and Chief Campus Officer for NCSSM-Morganton

kevin.baxter@ncssm.edu

828.347.9124

Recent Headlines: Our Campus in the News

• Morganton school to host summer STEM-camp geared toward diversity (The News Herald, Feb. 8)

• GIVING BACK Students from new school participate in day of community service (The News Herald, Feb. 6)



• The Art of Handmade Books encourages NCSSM students to exercise their creativity (The Paper, Feb. 4)

Quote of the Month

U.S. Congressman Patrick McHenry (NC-10) in The Paper:

"I’ve also recently had the opportunity to tour the North Carolina School of Science & Math’s beautiful new campus in Morganton. NCSSM coming to Morganton is a tremendous asset for our area and will do great work ensuring the next generation of North Carolinians have the tools they need to succeed in our changing workforce."

NCSM is now accepting applications for Summer Programs! Please help spread the word to rising 5th - 12th grade students who may be interested in a week-long summer camp (Morganton, Durham or online) or to potential summer staff ranging in education from a high school diploma to a bachelor's degree. 

Applications will remain open until all courses and staff positions are filled. Spots are filling quickly!

For prospective students: https://www.ncssm.edu/summer-programs/accelerator

For prospective staff: https://www.ncssm.edu/summer-programs/accelerator/work-here/staff-opportunities



If you have any questions, please email summer@ncssm.edu or contact Ms. Gina Barrier, Director of Extended Partnerships & Morganton Summer Programs at gina.barrier@ncssm.edu. 

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NCSSM’s Extended Learning team is excited to invite middle and high school educators to join us for a FREE day-long professional development event hosted at our NCSSM-Morganton campus. This “Getting Started with Data and Research in the Classroom” event is scheduled for April 26, 2023, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. At this event we’ll showcase strategies for supporting student-led research projects from start to finish – from brainstorming initial projects to data collection and interpretation at the end of the project cycle. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from outstanding educators in our community, collaborate and connect with peers, and walk away with resources ready to use in the classroom tomorrow! Space is limited so please reserve your spot soon.

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As part of Giving Tuesday back in November 2022, NCSSM-Morganton students and families participated in a challenge to raise funds for the NCSSM Foundation which supports the academic aspirations of talented North Carolina students. All residence halls competed to see which could raise the most, and the winners on each campus were promised a special trip as a reward.

Leadership made good on its promise over the weekend when a group of 40 NCSSM-Morganton students were treated to a snow tubing adventure at Beech Mountain in the high country of Western NC. NCSSM Chancellor Todd Roberts and NCSSM-Morganton Vice Chancellor Kevin Baxter joined in the fun and spent quality time with the students.

Luke Manget is a historian and faculty member at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Morganton, and he will discuss his book “Ginseng Diggers: A History of Root and Herb Gathering in Appalachia.” Published in 2022, Ginseng Diggers follows the history of the ginseng root and the value that it holds in the Appalachian mountains. It details the way the root was used in the medical trade and the deep history it has in North Carolina.

At the event, Manget will discuss his book and writing process, and will read some excerpts from Ginseng Diggers. There will be a Q&A with prepared questions, as well as questions taken from the audience. He will also be available to sign copies of the book afterwards. Books will be available to purchase at Adventure Bound Books before and during the event.

Anyone who wishes to attend this special event is encouraged to contact the bookstore by emailing events@adventureboundbooks.com, calling 828-475-6955, or by stopping by in person.

March Mammal Madness is an exciting competition written by scientists for science nerds! Now in its 11th year, MMM pits animals against each other in a bracket-style competition similar to the NCAA's March Madness, using real science and a dash of probability to determine the winners of each battle.

MMM is an excellent way to engage students in environmental and biological sciences, building an understanding of genetics, evolution, symbiotic relationships, animal behaviors, and human impacts on the environment.

The battles are tweeted out with great images, research links, humor, and a fair bit of trash talk. These tweets model social media as a great resource for science communication.

Teachers: check out the resources you can use in your own classroom:

• Article on National Geographic on the tournament
• Website with tons of resources to get you started
• Link to a site with incredible resources for educators
• Recent webinar by the creator of March Mammal Madness

The Mountain Satellite Office of The Science House is running a competition this year. The person who submits the bracket that earns the highest score will win a prize.

May the best mammal win!

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Morganton