Dogwood Trust opens doors to STEM for WNC students

A week at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics-Morganton gave Owen Howard more than he expected.

The rising high school junior followed in his older brother’s footsteps by attending the 2024 Summer Accelerator program at NCSSM-M. He signed up to learn about crime investigation — and while he dove deep into that subject, he left with something more: a fresh plan for his academic future.

Howard, a Rutherfordton native, credits the pivotal summer program sponsored by The Dogwood Trust, for broadening his perspective and fueling his excitement for the future.

After a week on the Morganton campus, he knew he wanted to apply for admission to the prestigious public high school, where gifted students focus their studies on STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and math).

Howard said his older brother attended the Summer Accelerator program the year before he did, and when it was his turn, Howard jumped at the opportunity. He loved the experience.

He recalled the summer accelerator opened his eyes to a new world of academics. “I was expecting us to only go over a few things, but we went over things constantly over the whole week, which really showed me how much there is to know in any subject,” he noted.

Howard is especially drawn to math and other logic-based disciplines. The teen loves a challenge and plans to not only pursue academic excellence while at NCSSM-M, but he also hopes to excel in athletics. According to Howard, his future plans may include work in real estate.

While NCSSM’s Summer Accelerator camps typically carry a tuition price tag between $695-$1,925, but thanks to funding from The Dogwood Health Trust, rising seventh- through 12th-grade students from any of North Carolina’s 18 westernmost counties can attend the camp at no cost.

Vice Chancellor and Chief Campus Officer Kevin Baxter said the Dogwood Health Trust partnership is invaluable.

“We remain incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of the Dogwood Health Trust,” Baxter said. “Each year, they enable nearly 70 young people from across Western North Carolina to participate in our Summer Accelerator enrichment experience, deepening their exposure to STEM programming and building lasting relationships with peers and subject matter experts.

“While we appreciate this support each year, it is especially meaningful in 2025 as communities across our region continue the long recovery from Hurricane Helene,” Baxter noted.

In order to qualify for the camp, students must be from Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Polk, Rutherford, Swain, Transylvania, or Yancey counties or the Qualla Boundary.

Students are selected through an application process for the one-week residential experience, which is always held on Morganton’s NCSSM campus.