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Wilmington, NC - Duplin County Schools proudly celebrates the achievements of its students at the Southeast Regional Science and Engineering Fair, held at the University of North Carolina Wilmington on Saturday, February 7, 2026.  Participating students earned multiple awards for their outstanding projects, showcasing their dedication to scientific inquiry and innovation.

Three of the nine projects presented will advance to the state-level competition in March, marking a significant accomplishment for these young scientists.

Chief Officer for STEAMA Curriculum & Instruction/PD, Mrs. Nicole Murray, praised the students' success, emphasizing the district’s commitment to hands-on STEAMA instruction. "Our students’ accomplishments demonstrate the impact of experiential, inquiry-driven learning through STEAMA. By tackling authentic challenges and applying creative, forward-thinking solutions, they are developing the knowledge and skills that will prepare them for continued success in their academic journeys and future careers."

Andrew Albertson (NDE) - Future Promise Award

John Guillen Mendoza (DECHS) - 1st place Senior Engineering, Naval Science Award, Outstanding Creativity Award, advancing to state-level fair

Leah Hunt and Lyric Smith (BES) - 2nd Place Junior Chemistry

Arden Kildow (EDHS) - 2nd Place Senior Biological Sciences B, Outstanding Creativity Award

Lina Kimes (NDE) - 1st Place Junior Physics, advancing to state-level fair

Madeline Kimes and Santiago Kimes (NDJS) - 3rd Place Senior Biological Sciences A

Sarai Ortez and Ruth Paez (WARE) - 1st Place Junior Earth and Environmental Science, advancing to state-level fair

Liam Whitney (WALE) - Honorable Mention Elementary Project, NC One Water Award, New Hanover Education Ventures Award, Outstanding Creativity Award

Congratulations to all participants for their hard work and success!

 

Kenansville, NC - Duplin Early College High School (DECHS) recently welcomed North Carolina Teacher of the Year, Ms. Rachel Candasco, as part of her statewide tour of early colleges. During her visit, Ms. Candasco experienced firsthand the transformative work taking place to support early college students in Duplin County.

Her day included classroom observations where she interacted with both students and teachers, followed by a panel discussion featuring students and staff. Throughout her visit, Ms. Candasco expressed how much she enjoyed hearing students’ perspectives on education and learning more about their experiences as part of an early college high school.

Ms. Candasco also commended Duplin County Schools for its innovative efforts in implementing a District-Wide Early College Model, noting that the district continues to serve as a strong example of how to expand opportunities and access for all students.

The visit was a meaningful opportunity to highlight the district’s ongoing commitment to personalized learning, academic excellence, and preparing every student for future success through its Early College and STEAMA-focused initiatives.
 

Congratulations to the DCS Tri-County EMC Bright Ideas Winners!

Twenty educators from Duplin County Schools were recently awarded Tri-County Bright Ideas Grants for the 2025-2026 school year. The grants received totaled $16187.70 and will be used to fund innovative projects for students. The floating awards banquet took place on November 3, 2025 at the Tri-County EMC Cooperative Office located in Dudley, NC. The winners from Duplin County Schools are among 130 deserving educators selected to receive funding for a total of $102,146.33.

Duplin County Schools teachers receiving Bright Ideas education grants are:  

Nicole Ewing, Beulaville Elementary

Kari Roberts, Beulaville Elementary

Emily Williams Beulaville Elementary

Alexis Futrell, Beulaville Elementary

George Christopher Brown, Center for Opportunity

Garrick Purdie, Duplin Early College High School

Connie Bracewell, Duplin Early College High School

Nephi Lawson, East Duplin High School

Daniel Huygens, East Duplin High School

Jackie Smith, East Duplin High School

Kim Marshburn, East Duplin High School 

Timothy Rowe, East Duplin High School

Mary Sumner, Kenansville Elementary 

Alexis Pate, North Duplin Elementary

Sarah Nielsen, North Duplin Elementary

Cayla Barwick, North Duplin Elementary

Jenny Sasser, North Duplin Elementary 

Morgan Taylor, North Duplin Elementary

Daylan Wise, North Duplin Elementary

Caroline Rocha, North Duplin Elementary

Congratulations to all DCS winners and many thanks to Tri-County Electric Membership Corporation!

 

Use these links to learn more about the NC College Connect:
Messaging & FAQ: Keep these message points and frequently asked questions handy for when you're talking about NC College Connect to your communities, networks, parents, or to students.

Student Flyer: Share this with students for a high-level overview of NC College Connect.

Parent One-Pager: Distribute this to parents in your district to answer common questions and share details about webinars and information sessions.

Video: This video contains an overview of the program and its requirements and directs viewers to the website to learn more. This can be shared on school television screens, on social media, and more.

ATTEND A WEBINAR TO LEARN MORE
Student & Parent Webinars
Sept. 16, 6 p.m.

Student & Parent Office Hours
Aug. 26, 6-7 p.m.
Sept. 30, 6-7 p.m.

 

Students from across our district recently demonstrated their talent, dedication, and school pride on a national stage at the 2025 National Beta Convention, competing in the Elementary, Junior, and Senior divisions. Our Beta Club members brought home an impressive 20 top-ten national awards across a wide range of academic and enrichment categories.

From academic subjects to the arts, our students showcased their creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking in competitions such as Living Literature, Robotics, Small Group Performance, Cake Decorating, Onsite Drawing, Quilling, and more. Their hard work and commitment were evident in every category, and the results speak volumes about the caliber of our students and the support of our educators and families.

Participation in National Beta Club events builds character, fosters academic achievement, and strengthens leadership skills—all of which were on full display during this year’s convention. We applaud the students, sponsors, and families who made this opportunity possible and congratulate all participants for their achievements and dedication.

Below is a list of school recognitions:

Chinquapin Elementary School

10th Place Science 5th Grade - Weylan Hatcher 

Duplin Early College High School

1st Place in Social Studies 11th Grade - Jenli Chilel Gonzalez

2nd Place in Science 11th Grade - Ximena Rodriguez Sanchez

6th Place in Health & Physical Education - Zuri Balderas Garcia

East Duplin High  School

3rd Place Cake Decorating Division I - Zoe Thigpen

James Kenan High  School 

5th Place Onsite Drawing Division - Zitlali Castro-Ramirez 

North Duplin Elementary School

1st Place Onsite Painting- Katherine Wolfe

4th Place Pottery- Addie Katherine Kornegay

3rd Place Club Trading Pin- Entered as NDE, created by Myra Belle Shields

8th Place Book Battle - Ella James Lambert, Addie Katherine Kornegay, & Eli Grady

Wallace Elementary School

2nd place Robotics- Thomas Bizzell, Kameron Carr, Tatum Smith, Aydan Kenan, and Caleb Medina

3rd Place Create and Animate - Aubree McKoy, Walt Phillips, De’Andre Phillips, and Isabell Mazareigos 

2nd place Fiber Arts - Aubree McKoy

7th place Small Group - Massey Cassell, Lydia Davis, Allie Henderson, Savannah Rivenbark,

Hollis Skidmore, Ella Turner 

Wallace-Rose Hill High School 

$15,000 Beta Scholarship- Elier Marquez

1st place 12th grade Spanish- Elier Marquez

2nd place Book Battle - Jonathan Medina, Geovana Herrera, Ammoryah Morrison

5th Place Speech Division II- Joshua James

8th Place Math 11th Grade - Nathaniel Crockrell

Warsaw Elementary School

8th Place Quilling - Azariah Robinson