Triangle Family – May/June 2024

20 VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR TEENS

STUDENT ART SHOWCASE View 23 local works

Every parent beams when they see their child perform in a school play, band concert or dance recital. I certainly did. All three of my children made music with their middle school bands, and my daughter found her passion in ballet. My pride was palpable as she danced for two brief minutes in her first Nutcracker performance at the age of 7, and in four demanding roles at her last show 12 years later. These are moments I will always cherish.

The arts are a beautiful form of expression for children. As part of our annual arts and enrichment issue, the staff of Triangle Family wanted to bring the talents of local youth to our pages. We’re thrilled with what we accomplished—a showcase featuring 23 extraordinary images of artwork from Triangle students in elementary through high school. Each is a testament to their creativity, and all are shining examples of personal expression. As our staff reviewed each submission, I thought about the parents of these talented kids who surely prided themselves in seeing their little ones learn to color inside the lines and progress to creating the masterpieces you’ll find on paes 10–17. Just as I experienced with my own children, that pride can’t ever be put into words.

Two local organizations, United Arts in Wake and The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, are ensuring that local school children not only discover art in its many forms, but are also nourished by it. Through their Artists in Schools and Artist in Residency programs, respectively, these organizations bring professional artists into the classroom for young people to experience the joys of music, dance, theater, visual arts, writing and storytelling, and to enhance what they’re already learning in their school arts programs. These rewarding experiences unfold in “Masterful Teaching” on page 18.

Teenage bassist Rayah Thomas is a professional artist in her own right. The Durham resident is a member of the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra and has performed with some of the Triangle’s most well-known musicians. Get to know Rayah in “All About That Bass” on page 22.

Here in Canes Country, we’re hoping for another Stanley Cup victory. In shaping young athletes, the Carolina Hurricanes always score. In “Growing the Game” on page 26, Kurt Dusterberg takes us behind the net to discover how the Junior Hurricanes program enhances growth and development in its players—and how girls have increasingly warmed up to the sport, including 15-year-old Raleigh native Mary Derrenbacher, whose hockey skills have catapulted her to the international playing level. Read about her journey in “For the Love of Hockey” on page 38.

Having defined modern ance for nearly a century, Durham’s American Dance Festival is a local treasure. Learn how this venerated organization continues to inspire new generations of dancers and audiences in “A Lasting Legacy” on page 30.

In other stories, freelance writer Marilyn Jones takes us to the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center at the North Carolina coast, where dedicated individuals are conserving and protecting all species of marine turtles. Facilities like this depend on volunteers, and there’s no better place to start service learning than at home. We’ve curated a list of 20 opportunities right here in the Triangle where teens and tweens can assist their communities and carry the benefits of charitable ork well into their adulthood.

This issue is bursting with local flavor, and we invite you to savor these pages to enhance your parenting journey. We’re fortunate to live in a region that offers so much for kids—and for moms, dads, guardians and grandparents to enjoy with them. Helping you enrich your child’s life is at the heart of everything we do at Triangle Family. Email me at janice@trianglefamilymag.com with your thoughts and story ideas. We’d love to hear from you.

Janice Lewine, Editor

Editor Janice Lewine's daughter Sarah (front) performs in The Nutcracker PHOTO COURTESY OF 20/20 PHOTO & VIDEO

PUBLISHERS

Ronny Stephens

Kent Braswell

EDITOR

Janice Lewine

ART AND WEB DIRECTOR

Sean Byrne

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Fran Sherman

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Jenny Paredes

SECTION EDITOR

Kurt Dusterberg

Health, Wellness and Youth Sports

COPY

EDITOR

Cindy Huntley

CONTRIBUTORS

Marilyn Jones, Dr. Emily W. King, Ph.D.,

Caitlin Wheeler

SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER

Melissa Wistehuff

SALES DIRECTOR

Sherry Braswell

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Stefanie McClary

Paige Gunter

Sophie Lapierre

Victoria Schenck

DISTRIBUTION

Joe Lizana

Berry Media Group

DistribuTech.net

FEATURES

10 STUDENT ART SHOWCASE View 23 local works

18 MASTERFUL TEACHING United Arts and The ArtsCenter bring professional artists into the classroom

22 ALL ABOUT THAT BASS

18-year-old jazz musician has found her groove

26 GROWING THE GAME

Carolina Junior Hurricanes program is turning out top players

30 A LASTING LEGACY

ADF has been defining dance for more than 90 years

34 EXPLORATIONS

Visit the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

38 YOUTH SPORTS

Raleigh teenager elevates her hockey game to the international level

40 DISCOVERIES 20 volunteer opportunities for teens and tweens

42 ASK THE EXPERT Tips for traveling with neurodivergent kids

Mia (5) of Raleigh got into character when UniverSoul Circus swung to town.

PHOTO BY CLARISSA GREEN

Dino-mite! Christian (1) of Raleigh has a roaring good time at the Dinos Alive Immersive Experience at Exhibition Hub Art Center Raleigh.

PHOTO BY CRYSTAL WATTS

Camdyn (6) of Raleigh dons a colorful handmade hat during craft and story time at Leesville Community Library.

PHOTO BY CRYSTAL WATTS

Local band, Clockwise, rocked out at The Pour House Music Hall & Record Shop in Raleigh during Bachapalooza, a youth music jam session hosted by Bach to Rock music school in Apex. (Pictured from left to right: Nicholas, Reuben, Eli and Nathan with their teacher, Sean.)

PHOTO BY JOSH MANNING

Batter up! Collin (12) of Wake Forest relaxes between innings at Clarence Lee Tart Memorial Park in Dunn.

PHOTO BY LAURA HOLBEN

Their future’s so bright! Finley (10), Blake (12), Juliet (8) and Kayleigh (12) of Raleigh don their safety eyewear to check out April’s solar eclipse.

PHOTO BY KRISTIN BOYD

Would you like your child featured in SOCIAL KIDS? Email your favorite photos and a short description to editors@trianglefamilymag.com.

GET INTO THE SWING OF THINGS

Parents often overlook golf as a sport for their young children, but First Tee Triangle makes entry into the sport easy and affordable. With seven-week sessions geared toward kids ages 5 and older, First Tee focuses on more than just skill development. The program exposes kids and teens to characterbuilding that promotes life skills. Golf training is integrated into lessons on managing emotions, resolving conflicts, establishing goals and more.

First Tee has a series of programs throughout the year at courses in Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Apex. Each seven-week session is $60 for ages 5 and 6 and $85 for ages 7 and older. The organization has financial aid opportunities for those needing assistance. For more information, visit firstteetriangle.org.

A WALK IN THE PARK

Looking for a good outdoor activity for the family? Raleigh has four nature preserves with free activities to get families on their feet.

Annie Louise Wilkerson, MD Nature Preserve Park. Created in 2006, the land is used for nature and wildlife education. Enjoy free nature craft activities and hands-on displays designed for children. Programs include bird watching, astronomy nights and art classes.

Durant Nature Preserve. The park was designated as a nature preserve in 2010 with the goal of protecting and preserving the area’s significant natural resources. Learn more about ponds, insects, birds and animal tracking using discovery backpacks that are available for free on a first-come, first-served basis whenever the park is open.

Horseshoe Farm Nature Preserve. The preserve sits on a U-shaped piece of land in northeastern Wake County with exceptional natural and cultural resources. Surrounded on three sides by the Neuse River, it consists of primarily undeveloped pastures and woodland areas.

Walnut Creek Wetland Park. The park’s mission is to promote the importance of wetlands for clean water, habitat and recreation while emphasizing human interaction with nature.

IT’S HIKING WEATHER

Spring is an ideal time for a family hike, and the Triangle offers plenty of options suited for parents and kids alike. The Company Mill Trail to Reedy Creek Trail Loop is a 6-mile trail at William B. Umstead State Park that takes just over two hours to complete. Want something a bit easier? The Lake Johnson East Loop Trail at Lake Johnson Park is 2.8 miles and takes about an hour to walk.

For an extensive list of options, visit alltrails.com/us/northcarolina/raleigh/kids. Each entry includes the trail distance, estimated walking time, description and photos.

PARENTS PLAY A PART

Families across the Triangle are back in sports mode, and that means parents cheering on their kids. As many moms and dads find out, sometimes it’s hard to keep their emotions in check. Before you set up your folding chair or take a seat in the bleachers, here are a few ways you can help your child have success:

Before tryouts or joining a team, make sure your child can perform the basic skills of a sport. Teach your children to throw, catch, swing, shoot—whatever the sport requires—before the first practice. At the rec level, nothing discourages a kid more than being “behind” the other kids.

Resist the urge to critique your child’s performance. Focus instead on complimenting their skill development.

The best six words you can say to your child after a game are “I love to watch you play!”

For a variety of resources for sports parents, visit discover.sportsengineplay. com.

YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR FROM DURHAM APPEARS ON “THE DREW BARRYMORE SHOW”

Ava N. Simmons, an 11-year-old from Durham, performed a science experiment on “The Drew Barrymore Show” February 21. Known as “Ava the S.T.E.M. Princess,” she created her own brand, Team Genius Squad, with a mission to promote science, technology, engineering and math awareness for young people. During her appearance on the show, Ava conducted her signature acid-base reaction experiment and shared her story about being dyslexic, which inspired her to challenge herself with hands-on activities and start Team Genius Squad. The brand features STEM-inspired experiment kits, puzzles, jewelry and more that can be purchased at shop.teamgeniussquad.com, Marbles Kids Museum in Raleigh, the Museum of Life and Science in Durham and Whole Foods Market locations starting in June. For more information, visit teamgeniussquad.com.

WCPSS STUDENTS SHINE IN PIECES OF GOLD AND GIFTS OF GOLD

Nearly 1,000 students from the Wake County Public School System took part in two annual events in March that showcased their talents and creativity. On March 6, more than 800 students performed in Pieces of Gold, a sold-out show at Memorial Auditorium in downtown Raleigh that was hosted by local music artist Rissi Palmer. Gifts of Gold, a temporary exhibition featuring artwork from more than 100 Wake County students ranging from kindergarteners to high school seniors, was held March 20–April 7 at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh in collaboration with Raleigh Arts, United Arts and the WakeEd Partnership. For more information, visit wcpss.net.

DURHAM’S NORTHERN HIGH WINS 2024 NC JUNIOR CHEF COMPETITION

The Flaming Knights from Northern High School in Durham won first place and a silver medal in the annual NC Junior Chef Competition March 13, beating two other high school finalist teams from CharlotteMecklenburg Schools and Dare County Schools. The teams were challenged to work with their school nutrition administrators to develop creative recipes for school lunch entrées that are compliant with school nutrition program standards, include at least two North Carolina–grown products and one USDA Foods item, are replicable by school nutrition programs and are appealing to students. The Northern High team created a healthier version of taquitos—a student favorite—by sauteéing chicken with a variety of spices and adding black beans and North Carolina–grown cabbage, onions and zucchini. The junior chefs wrapped the filling in whole-grain tortillas, which they baked in an oven to crisp, and served the taquitos with a homemade chipotle dipping sauce. For more information, visit dpi.nc.gov.

TRIANGLE STUDENTS WIN PRIZES IN C-SPAN’S NATIONAL VIDEO DOCUMENTARY COMPETITION

C-SPAN, the private nonprofit public affairs media organization, recently announced that 17 students in Chapel Hill, Raleigh and Wake Forest are winners in C-SPAN’s 20th annual StudentCam Documentary competition. The project-based learning experience gives students the opportunity to explore multiple perspectives on topics that are important to them. Sadie Mersereau, an eighth grader at Smith Middle School in Chapel Hill, received $750 as a third-prize winner for the documentary, “Growing America: The Sprawling of Our Nation.” Sadie Kelsey and Ursula Furnas, 10th graders at Millbrook High School in Raleigh, also received $750 as third-prize winners for the documentary, “The Future is Female.” Fourteen other local students are honorable mention prize winners and received $250 for their documentaries. View the full list of winners at studentcam.org/winners24.htm 5.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TEAM GENIUS SQUAD

PHOTO COURTESY OF JANICE LEWINE

PHOTO

PHOTOS

URSULA FURNAS

SADIE KELSEY SADIE MERSEREAU

POE CENTER’S TERRIFIC TEETH DAY A SUCCESS

More than 100 children and parents attended The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education’s Terrific Teeth Day event February 3. Forty-five kids received dental screenings, along with exams and treatments, courtesy of the Colgate Mobile Dental Van and Baptists on Mission Mobile Dental Bus. Dental professionals emphasized the importance of brushing teeth twice a day for two minutes, visiting the dentist twice a year and making proper nutritional choices. The event included Dr. Robert Orander’s dental magic show and a chance for kids to make tooth fairy pillows. The Poe Center offers dental health education programs for preschool through third grade. It also offers programs on a wide range of health topics, including adolescent development, nutrition and physical activity, body systems, substance use prevention, cooking and bullying prevention.

MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TIED TO SMOKING, ALCOHOL

Teenagers who drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes or marijuana are more likely to experience mental health issues than those who do not, according to a new study. Anxiety, depression, hyperactivity and suicidal thoughts are linked to the use of these substances, according to research published in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers noted that all symptoms of mental health issues were elevated regardless of what substance was used, and that daily or near-daily use was linked to a moderate increase in symptoms. Information from two large groups of teens was used in the study. One group was made up of 15,600 high school students in Massachusetts, and the other included data from 17,000 teens who responded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey.

BACKPACK BUDDIES ADDRESSES WEEKEND NUTRITION

The Junior League of Raleigh welcomes donations that help feed children through BackPack Buddies. The program provides food-insecure children at three elementary schools—Lacy, Rogers Lane and Conn Magnet—with weekend meals during the school year. The packed food is sourced from the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina from individuals and businesses in the community. Each week, participating children receive a bag filled with two proteins, two vegetables, one fruit, two milks, one juice, two breakfast items, two snacks and two noodle dishes. The organization welcomes support through donations, food drives and monetary sponsorships. For questions and to make donations, contact backpack@ jlraleigh.org.

EARLY CHECK OFFERS EXTENDED NEWBORN SCREENING

Early Check, a research study that provides free health tests to newborns up to four weeks old in North Carolina, has screened 1,000 newborns in the state under its genome sequencing study. The study, launched last September, screens newborns for hundreds of childhood-onset genetic conditions, many of which are not identified through state newborn screening, and assesses a newborn’s genetic risk of developing Type 1 diabetes in their lifetime. Led by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Research Triangle Institute, Early Check offers additional newborn screening shortly after birth, under a research protocol that supplements the standard newborn screening conducted in North Carolina. The additional screening is free and offered to newborns who are enrolled in the study by their parents when they are four weeks old or younger. For more information, visit earlycheck.org.

STUDENT ART

Showcase

A picture is worth a thousand words, especially when it’s created by a young person. Art plays an important role in a child’s education by nurturing creativity and self-awareness, and cultivating empathy and understanding.

Triangle Family asked students in public and private elementary, middle and high schools across the Triangle to submit their artwork for our Student Art Showcase—and the results are impressive. Thoughtfully created and meticulously crafted, these pieces demonstrate imagination, originality and self-expression. Their inspiration, as described here in the students’ own words, underscore a way of looking at the world as only they can interpret—and for us to appreciate.

HAM SANDWICH

Libby

Apex Middle School, grade 8

Acrylic on paper

“I referenced a photograph that was given to our class for an assignment. My painting was chosen as a favorite from the eighth-grade art students.”

DOUBLE HAND EMOTIONS

Camayah

Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, grade 10

Linoleum block printing

“I wanted to utilize the negative and positive areas of linoleum printing through the presentation of opposing hands that express emotions.”

“I was inspired by the artist Megan Coyle. I wanted to ‘paint with paper,’ and cut up magazines to create a collage.”

POLAR PAL David

Wildwood Forest Magnet Elementary School, Raleigh, grade 5 Paint

Perspective, ant-eye view.

ORCA Maria

The Montessori School of Raleigh, grade 7 Clay, acrylic paint Inspired by “Mexican art and animals.”

BRIGHT BOBA MATCHA

Aaliyah

Club Boulevard Magnet Elementary School, Durham, grade 4 Paper collage

CLAYMATION ANIMATION, MINIATURE SET

Kilian

Durham Academy, grade 11

Clay, balsa wood, plywood, wire, paper and fabric

Inspired by “how the use of phones among teens takes away opportunities to enjoy or develop other hobbies.”

LOOK AT HER

Kensie

Trinity Academy, Raleigh, grade 12

Watercolor

“It is an attempt to capture how I felt as a younger dancer and the older girls would watch me, and how I perceived the older girls.”

WAVES

Alexa

Trinity School of Durham and Chapel Hill, grade 10 Linoleum block printing

ALTHEIA GALLERY Ky

Sanderson High School, Raleigh, grade 12 Cardboard, watercolor, ink and string

“I wanted to recognize a certain kind of everyday hero: people who make truthful information available to the general public (photographers, writers, artists).”

TUCKER

Kate Oakview Elementary School, Apex, grade 5

Crayons, tempera paint and oil pastels on paper

Inspired by the artwork of Jackson Pollock and the techniques necessary to create the animal eyes. Kate rendered the artwork to look like her dog Tucker, and represented Oakview Elementary School in the Wake County Public School System’s 2024 Gifts of Gold art show.

COFFEE SHOP FLOWERS

Victoria Grace Christian School, Raleigh, grade 11 Paper and coffee

“I love books and coffee, and my middle name is Rose.”

Won first place in The Woman’s Club of Raleigh Arts Festival competition in high school paper arts; won Superior (blue ribbon) at the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI) Art Festival in 2023.

YOUNG GAME CHANGER

Oscar

St. Timothy’s School, Raleigh, grade 8

Digital mosaic

“Marcus

Smart is my favorite basketball player and used to play for my favorite team, the Boston Celtics.”

GRAY NIGHT

Juniper

Cedar Ridge High School, Hillsborough, grade 12, IB Visual Arts program

Acrylic paint on canvas

“Gray Night” was visually inspired by the Fauvist paintings of Henri Matisse. The subject was inspired by how colorfully the streetlights illuminated my friend.”

Artwork exhibited at the Hillsborough Arts Council Gallery, spring 2024.

I AM HOPEFUL FOR THE WORLD

Carolynn

Apex Friendship Elementary School, grade 5

Acrylic paint, collage

Inspired by “the suffering of penguins due to global warming.”

Represented Apex Friendship Elementary School in the Wake County Public School System’s 2024 Gifts of Gold art show.

CERAMIC BEADS

Milo

Durham Academy, grade 12

Ceramic

Inspired by “indigenous North and South American ceramics and beadwork.”

DOUBT

Catherine

Cedar Ridge High School, grade 12, IB Visual Arts program

Acrylic paint on canvas

“This work was inspired by the self-worth struggles adolescents face in the 21st century due to unrealistic expectations and trends they are exposed to from social media.”

Artwork exhibited at the Hillsborough Arts Council Gallery, spring 2024.

SELF PORTRAIT

Ava

South Lakes Elementary School, Fuquay-Varina, grade 5

Pencil

“My artwork is about my mind. I want people to notice that the stuff that goes inside my head is unique.”

CONVERSATION WITH A PIG!

Tamya

Shepard Magnet Middle School, Durham, grade 8

tSEA TURTLE

Anabella

Hodge Road Magnet Elementary School, Knightdale, grade 5

Pencil and alcohol-based markers on sketch paper

“I find all sea creatures amazing, but sea turtles in particular. Their shells are a blend of different colors and patterns.”

Represented Hodge Road Magnet Elementary School in Wake County Public School System’s 2024 Gifts of Gold art show.

TAYLOR SWIFT MOSAIC

Jordan

St. Timothy’s School, Raleigh, grade 9

Graphic design

Inspired by “Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.”

Won first place in The Woman’s Club of Raleigh Arts Festival competition.

CHRISTMAS WITH A CAMERA

Emily

Grace Christian School, Raleigh, grade 11

Color digital photography

“I tried to capture the Christmas light glow by taking the picture in the dark.”

Won first place in the The Woman’s Club of Raleigh Arts Festival competition in high school color photography, first place in the GFWC District 6 Art Contest and first place in the GFWC of North Carolina competition.

A MOSQUITO FROM A WORLD OF INK

Sofia

The Montessori School of Raleigh, grade 9

Pen and ink

“The mosquito is a symbol of persistence, survival and deception. It’s the most hated bug in history, but no one dares to see its beauty.”

TYPEWRITER

Ellie-Reed

Trinity Academy, Raleigh, grade 12

Cardboard

“The process of this project included sketching multiple angles of the typewriter and figuring out what details to include and execute. This project helped my understanding of construction techniques and also helped me understand the detailing of an object.”

Won Best in Show at Trinity Academy’s Night of the Arts.

MASTERFUL TEACHING

United Arts in Wake and The ArtsCenter in Carrboro enrich classrooms with their teaching artist programs.

BY JANICE LEWINE

Children love to create art, whether it’s a painting, a song or a story. Unlocking their potential starts young, when they’re first introduced to art in its many forms. Igniting their imagination and creativity is the mission of two Triangle organizations, United Arts in Wake and The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, which bring immersive learning experiences to school classrooms through their esteemed teaching artist programs.

MAKING ART HAPPEN WITH UNITED ARTS

What began as a partnership between the Wake County Public School System and United Arts—an organization that was created with the merger of the Capital Area

Arts Foundation and the Wake County Arts Council—more than four decades ago has grown into a new endeavor, titled Artists in Schools. This program places more than 100 professional artists and ensembles in more than 140 Wake County K–12 public and private schools for curriculumbased performances, workshops and multi-day residencies. These individuals share their knowledge with more than 130,000 students each year, offering a rich tapestry of artistic disciplines that include music, dance, theater, visual arts, writing and storytelling. In these interactive experiences—delivered as one-time sessions or performances, or as two-, three- or five-day residencies for a particular grade level—students discover everything from musical instruments and

Visual artist Shannon Newby guided students in building a coral reef to enhance their understanding of this fragile ecosystem.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANNON NEWBY

dance sequences to visual art techniques and the power of the written and spoken word. Many experiences incorporate history and culture lessons, environmental education, and math and science concepts to further enrich their learning.

Julia Mastropaolo, director of arts education at United Arts, says Artists in Schools does not seek to replace art teachers, but rather enhance what they’re instructing. “That’s the strength of this program. We have over 200 offerings available, and schools get to pick exactly what fits their student populations, their goals and their themes for the year.”

To help schools learn more about the experiences, United Arts organizes an annual expo in Raleigh where cultural arts representatives, teachers and parents engage with approximately 80 artists, many of whom offer excerpts of their programs.

United Arts also highlights these offerings in an extensive directory on its website.

Students enrolled in global studies programs, for example, gain insight into other cultures through numerous offerings—such as West African drumming, music and dance from Ireland and India, Australian history and music, and origami and folktales from Japan—all delivered in an age-appropriate way. Other programs, like those by Black Box Dance Theatre, teach physical movement to help students grasp geometry, Newton’s laws of motion, human body systems and other curriculum concepts.

Mastropaolo explains that writer residencies in particular, which are led by local authors Kelly Starling Lyons, Mimi Herman and Michael Beadle, spark kids’ enthusiasm. “Students who typically don’t engage or particularly like writing not only join in, but they do it with excitement. They have something to say, and they learn that they can say it with the written word and be successful,” she says.

The kids get a really nice mix. Some kids have grown up with the program, so every year they get a new Artist in Residency.

—Wendy Smith, executive director of The ArtsCenter

Living Rhythms brings West African drumming and dance to Powell Magnet Elementary School in Raleigh.

COURTESY OF UNITED ARTS

Visual artist Shannon Newby works primarily with fifth graders who’ve been exposed to science concepts and illuminates them through a captivating art project. One of her most popular programs involves coral reefs and the effects of coral bleaching. “I lay the groundwork about this fragile ecosystem and its amazing biodiversity,” she explains. “We talk about recycling and repurposing materials, so we use all kinds of things like shower loofahs, paper cups and pipe cleaners to build a giant, colorful coral reef.” She tailors her art projects to specific grade levels and to complement what they’re learning in class; a recent one for second graders enhanced their study of pollination.

Newby also leads students in creating legacy projects, which are permanent art installations prominently located in a school building. “Students want to be part of something big and feel like they’re leaving a mark. I facilitate a collaborative project that the students really are in charge of. I love seeing their confidence level rise and how the project ends up,” she says.

Funding for Artists in Schools is provided by the Wake County Board of Commissioners, Wake County Public School System and the North Carolina Arts Council, as well as private funders and supporters. The funding enables United Arts to provide mini-grants to help schools bring in teaching artists, a process which is facilitated through their cultural arts representatives. Schools may apply for a maximum of four grants per school year and are required to provide an investment toward the cost of a program.

This early exposure to the arts not only encourages creativity, innovation and self-confidence for young people; it also enhances relationship building. “When you see students and the way they engage with the artists, it’s pretty powerful,” Mastropaolo says.

NOURISHING YOUNG MINDS WITH THE ARTSCENTER

Through its Artist in Residency (AIR) program, The ArtCenter in Carrboro collaborates with five Title I elementary schools in Orange County to bring learning experiences to students in grades K–5. Title I is a federally funded program that provides financial assistance to schools in which at least 40% of the student population has been designated as economically disadvantaged and receives free or reduced lunch, to help ensure that all students meet academic achievement standards. The AIR program provides valuable arts enrichment to these students. Funding is made possible from Orange County Schools, the Orange County Arts Commission, local foundations and community donations. The schools and families receive the program at no cost.

Wendy Smith, executive director of The ArtsCenter, says core artists and their specialties—including ceramics, fabric art, drumming, storytelling and poetry—are integrated into the schools’ core curriculum as five-session residencies for each grade level. “The kids get a really nice mix. Some kids have grown up with the program, so every year they get a new Artist in Residency.”

AIR Program Coordinator Micky Hickey finds value in introducing students to the people who make their livelihoods from art and are actively involved in the community. Hickey works with the artists and classroom teachers to combine lesson plans, artistic disciplines and multicultural perspectives for their diverse student bodies. “The benefit of the program is pretty immediate. I get feedback from grade-level teachers who

Folk musician and teaching artist Charles Pettee takes students into the vibrant world of bluegrass music. PHOTOS COURTESY OFTHE ARTSCENTER AND CHARLES PETTEE

report how their students have been changed or lightened up from a residency. It’s amazing to see how impactful such a short program can be,” Hickey says.

Folk musician Charles Pettee has collaborated with The ArtsCenter as a teaching artist “before there were even words for it,” he laughs. Raised in western North Carolina, Pettee takes students into the toe-tapping world of bluegrass music, sharing its history, culture and the distinct sounds of its instruments, from the mandolin to the harmonica. During his residency, Pettee and the students work together to compose a song—one that he says they often remember years later.

“Art is an incredible way of learning,” Pettee says, adding that men and women from different backgrounds have long been attracted to bluegrass, which exemplifies the values of diversity, equity and inclusion that he shares with students. “Bluegrass is community music. In that moment, we’re a community engaged in learning about this music and honoring and appreciating each other.”

Art is an incredible way of learning.

The Children’s Theatre of Charlotte also stresses diversity, equity and inclusion in its shows. The award-winning theatrical company travels to each of the five schools to perform an annual play, delivering messages of empathy, friendship and kindness that help to strengthen school spirit and students’ respect for each other.

“Everyone looks forward to an artist coming in. Students connect directly with the artist and with the art they’re working on,” says Christopher Marks, principal of Grady A. Brown Elementary School in Hillsborough, who sees the benefit of the AIR program throughout the building. He describes three murals that students proudly created with the guidance of a visual artist. These nourish a sense of community and offer assurance that anyone can create art.

Smith agrees, having seen many children shine from early arts exposure. “Often the arts can just trigger something in a child, and they look at the world in a new way. Everyone has that creative capacity; they just need to be empowered and have the confidence to do it.

Little Red Riding Hood and the Three Little Pigs conspire together to teach the Big Bad Wolf a lesson on bullying. The North Carolina Opera delivered this performance at Lake Myra Elementary School in Wendell.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNITED ARTS

Students created these ink marbled exoplanets with artist Shannon Newby.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SHANNON NEWBY

—Charles Pettee, teaching artist

That All About

18-year-old jazz musician has already found her groove

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

ayah Thomas’s upright bass stands about six feet in height, stretching several inches above her head. She insists her instrument isn’t quite as cumbersome as it looks. That’s the good news. The bad news?

“I’ve always wanted a sports car, but there’s no way,” she says with a smile. “I have to get a hatchback because of this instrument.”

Thomas is a high school senior with a profound love for jazz. At age 18, the Durham resident is a member of the Heart of Carolina Jazz Orchestra, an adult group that performs at schools, festivals and dances across the state. On this evening, she is waiting for rehearsal to begin with the big band, while explaining the role of her instrument in the orchestra.

“In jazz, the primary thing that [bassists] do is walking, just playing quarter notes,” she says, tugging her fingers across the strings. “Sometimes we’ll just play a solo, which is where we improvise a melody over it.”

Her tutorial continues enthusiastically, unaware that she speaks with the natural instincts of an instructor.

“There’s a lot of ways to manipulate the sound. A lot of it comes down to how you angle your fingers on the bass. There’s a softer sound up here on the fingerboard, and a louder sound down here, depending on how much pressure you use.”

It is clear that Thomas has full command of the bass, which is remarkable considering she has been playing for just more than four years. But the gentle exposure to music began when she was given a violin at age 5. “I would just noodle with it,” she says. “I didn’t actually learn how to play it.”

At the same time, her musical destiny was lurking right there in her parents’ home all along. Her father is a jazz lover, and he had an upright bass in their home, where it stood idly as a showpiece. “It didn’t seem daunting or intimidating to me,” Thomas says. “It was just waiting for me to pick it up one day.”

In the meantime, she was drawn to the cello in time for middle school. “I thought it was a beautiful instrument,” she says. “But by seventh grade I was bored with it, and I wanted a bigger challenge.”

So the cello, a classical instrument, gave way to the bass. At the same time, subtle wafts of jazz had been pulling at her musical heartstrings all along. Throughout Rayah’s life, her father had played the music of jazz pianist and composer Ahmad Jamal, allowing Rayah and her older sister to just absorb the style and tones. “I was fascinated by Ahmad Jamal’s music,” she says. “[My dad would] put it on and let us listen to it like a lullaby as we fell asleep. It was really a subconscious thing. He didn’t talk about it much. After a while, it just made sense.”

Thomas spent time in the Triangle Youth Music program, beginning in the lowest tier of the classical and jazz programs before eventually reaching the top ensemble. Her inclusion in the Heart of Carolina group today speaks to her growth as a bassist. Her practice routines ramped up from two hours a day to as many as six. “I was so determined to get better that it became a way of life for me,” she says.

“She’s close to being a seasoned professional,” says Dr. Gregg Gelb, DMA, founder and director of the orchestra. “She has a good beat, she has a good tone. She’s creative, she has good ideas and she knows how to fit in with a group.”

Last summer, she was selected to attend the annual Vail Jazz Workshop in Colorado, an invitation-only event for 12 high school jazz musicians. The invitees receive instruction from top instructors and play with many of today’s finest performers.

“I was terrified initially. There was a lot of imposter syndrome,” Thomas says. “It came down to me really not focusing on how I’m perceived, but how I’m able to learn from others. That really got me through it. In order to learn, I have to be able to overcome these things.”

Thomas performed at the annual Vail Jazz Workshop in Colorado last summer. PHOTOS COURTESY OF STEVEN POPE

I was so determined to get better that it became a way of life for me.

With the added confidence and instruction, Thomas is now a sought-after performer, earning professional gigs with jazz groups on a weekly basis. Acclaimed band director and vibraphonist Christian Tamburr, an Apex resident, travels the world playing with elite performers. He first heard her play when the Triangle Youth Jazz Ensemble opened for his quintet at the Heart ‘n Soul of Jazz festival in Pinehurst. He recently hired her for a trio with Triangle vocalist Shana Tucker.

“Rayah’s time, feel and approach to the music at such a young age is incredibly impressive,” Tamburr says. “She exudes a presence of true command on the upright bass with a natural sense of swing. She not only came into the gig completely prepared, but was unphased by the fact that she was by far the youngest musician on the stage. Her playing and professionalism are unparalleled.”

Thomas, who is home-schooled, plans to continue her music career in college. She will look into top programs such as Michigan State University’s College of Music, the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and the School of Music at UNC-Greensboro’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.

“I like playing with other people,” she says. “I know I want to expand upon my knowledge as much as I can because I know how important music is, and I want to be able to pass it along to the next generation. In order to do that, I have to make sure I learn it well and accurately, and [am respectful] toward the culture and the history. Once I get to a point where I’m confident enough, that’s when I will decide what avenue to take.”

How that musical future unfolds feels like a happy mystery, and Thomas welcomes the questions. “How can I gradually make this something I do every day and not have it feel like work?” she wonders. “How can I articulate my true self through the music? I don’t want to stop. I feel like there’s no limits to that. I’m constantly working toward the next level.”

Thomas recognizes how far she has come. She delights in the way those first cradle songs have fostered a remarkable sense of purpose and direction at an early age. All of it feels exciting.

“I honestly feel it’s a privilege to be this confident in what I want to do at such a young age,” she says. “Of course, it is intimidating, but my goal is to learn. And I know that I have to interact with people who are much more experienced than me in order to get where they are.”

Thomas is a sought-after bassist and recently played in a trio with Triangle vocalist Shana Tucker.

PHOTO COURTESY OF RAYAH THOMAS

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An Immersive Maze Adventure

The Carolina Junior Hurricanes program is turning out top players

BY KURT DUSTERBERG

GAME GROWING THE S

hane Willis remembers what the kids were wearing around the arena 13 years ago.

The retired Carolina Hurricanes forward had just taken over the Junior Hurricanes program in 2011, and many of the young players proudly wore the sweaters of Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby and his rival, the Washington Capitals’ Alexander Ovechkin.

“Now it’s all Hurricanes,” Willis says. “To see the excitement of our kids for this organization has been awesome to watch.”

The NHL team has created a lot of buzz among youth players by making the playoffs each season since 2019, but the Junior Hurricanes are doing their part to make sure youth hockey thrives in Triangle. The organization has more than 700 players and 40 professional coaches.

“It’s been a 20-year process,” says executive director Steve Henley, who started with the program in 2008. “That’s the fun thing about it.”

In 2007, the Raleigh Youth Hockey Association formed a partnership with Canes Youth and Amateur Hockey and began to compete under the banner of the Carolina Junior Hurricanes. In 2019, the Carolina Eagles, another youth hockey association, joined to form the Carolina Junior Hurricanes Hockey Association. Today, the organization has a full roster of teams at every competitive level, including Tier 1 AAA (an elite tryout-based program), Tier 2 (travel hockey) and Super 8 (developmental hockey for ages 8 and under).

“We have developed a birth-year team at every age of Tier 2 and Tier 1 AAA,” Henley says. “That was consistent with other well-established northern hockey programs. We’ve become somewhat on par with them, and we’re able to have competitive teams at all of those levels.”

The program has a home base at Invisalign Arena @ Wake Competition Center in Morrisville, where the teams have access to two sheets of ice, a training facility and even a goalie room equipped with virtual reality training. Henley also points to a highly dedicated coaching staff, which includes former Hurricanes players Willis, Justin Williams and Steven Rice.

TOP: The Junior Hurricanes have a home base at Invisalign Arena @ Wake Competition Center in Morrisville.

MIDDLE: The organization offers elite-level and recreational hockey programs.

BOTTOM: The Junior Hurricanes are comprised of more than 700 players and 40 professional coaches.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CAROLINA JUNIOR HURRICANES

“What has set us apart is we have guys who specialize in different areas, and they’re very good at what they do,” he says. “We’ve been steadfast that there is a lot of consistency.”

Of course, not all players are focused on travel and elite-level hockey, and that’s where the Polar Hurricanes House League comes into play. The recreational program offers spring and fall leagues for players ages 6 to 18. Spring enrollment included more than 1,400 young athletes.

And what about those kids who are curious about the game, but have had no previous exposure? The Hurricanes First Goal program for ages 5–10 provides a full set of equipment to new players for less than $300, along with six learn-to-play sessions led by Willis and his staff. More than 700 kids took part last summer.

“The learn-to-play program has shown huge strides over the last seven years,” Willis says. “Bringing almost 800 kids into the sport and retaining as many as we can has been exciting to watch

from a coaching standpoint.”

The organization is careful to ensure that each player is placed at a level that maximizes growth and development. Coaches provide season-long evaluation with a focus on each player’s long-term goals. A curriculum is carefully designed to maximize the foundational skills of hockey: skating and edge work, puck control, passing and shooting. The results now speak for themselves. More than 100 program alumni played collegiate or junior hockey in the 2023–24 season. Building the program gets easier with each passing year.

“A lot of it is word-of-mouth, a lot is transplanted people from up north coming in,” he says. “We get emails on a weekly basis from parents who have kids that play hockey. Their first priority isn’t schools or finding a house, it’s ‘Do you have a program for my kid to play hockey?’ It’s crazy.”

TOP: Each athlete plays at a level that maximizes their development.

BOTTOM: The program has enriched young players since 2008.

IT’S A GIRLS’ GAME TOO

Junior Canes program offers plenty of training, teams and opportunities

BY KURT DUSTERBERG PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE CAROLINA JUNIOR HURRICANES

Sarah Antonelli’s hockey history is a lot like that of other young women.

As a six-year-old growing up near Detroit, she caught the hockey bug watching her older brother play the game. But her early years were spent on co-ed teams where she was the only girl. It wasn’t until age 13 that she started playing with girls at summer camps.

Today, Antonelli oversees 11 teams as the girls’ and women’s hockey specialist for the Carolina Junior Hurricanes. The teams range from 8U to 19U.

“These girls will go play college hockey,” she says. “And some of them might even have the opportunity for the new professional league.”

Antonelli coaches the program’s successful 16U and 19U teams. The 16U AAA team qualified for the 2024 USA Hockey Girls Tier 1 16U National Championship. But she is quick to point out that the foundation for the birth-year teams begins much earlier. The First Goal program is an NHL initiative that gives kids ages 5–10 their first full set of hockey gear.

Last year, 100 girls took part in the weekly learn-to-play sessions in July and August. The all-girls session feeds into the Lil’ Lady Canes program, a league-play program for ages 6–11.

From there, it’s on to the Junior Hurricanes

tryout-based travel-hockey association.

“The feeder systems that we have and the growth we’re seeing is going to bring a lot of success,” Antonelli says. “These players are going to go through the Junior Canes program until they’re 18 years old. We have a really good layout and pathway for girls hockey. There’s a place to play for everyone, whether that’s recreational or travel.”

Keeping the girls in hockey is the ultimate goal. To that end, the game is introduced slowly among the youngest players.

“Eight and under, it’s all about fun, and that’s how you keep girls in the sport,” Antonelli says. “At 10U and 12U is when you start to understand what full-ice looks like, so you’re learning offsides and a little penalty kill and power play. The most important thing is skating. All the players hate to skate, but power skating is so important. It will continue to be the main focus of 10U and 12U.”

Improving hockey’s most fundamental skill is a major part of the mission and a reason why the Junior Hurricanes are closing the gap with other more established programs.

“When my 15- and 16-year-old girls go and play a top-20 team, the biggest thing I notice is they’re just not as strong of skaters,” says Antonelli, who played college hockey at

Stevenson University in Maryland. “That’s because my players didn’t start until they were 9 and 10. Now, because it’s more popular down here, they’re getting into the sport earlier.”

The aim of the girls program is to have the sport play an important role in the lives of the players. The coaching and instructional staff is all women—a benefit that goes beyond the ice.

“It’s just important to have a female role model that you can confide in and relate to. It helps us become better hockey players because they understand us mentally, physically

and emotionally, more than a male could,” Antonelli says. “And it’s important to show the girls that there is a place for you. Beyond playing, you can coach and help grow the game when you’re older.”

The Junior Hurricanes have graduated close to 40 female players into college hockey, and more are sure to come.

“I think that’s why these kids are developing so much more quickly than they ever had before,” she says. “It’s because they have something to strive for.”

LEFT TO RIGHT: The organization boasts 11 girls’ and womens’ hockey teams, ranging from 8U to 19U.

BOTTOM:The 16U AAA team qualified for the 2024 USA Hockey Girls Tier I 16U National Championship.

A LastingLegacy

BY CAITLIN WHEELER

PHOTOS BY BEN M c KEOWN

Durham’s American Dance Festival has been defining modern dance for more than 90 years

Don’t know modern dance? That’s OK. Neither did Gaspard Louis when he fell in love with it in college, launching a celebrated career in dance and introducing him to Jodee Nimerichter, director of the America Dance Festival. Louis and Nimerichter married and settled both themselves and ADF firmly beside Duke University’s East Campus in Durham. Together, they are the perfect ambassadors of dance: she, a world-renowned tastemaker of cutting-edge dance forms; he, a celebrated dancer and choreographer. The Triangle is lucky to have them.

Lucky, because there’s no better place to learn about and explore the many forms of dance today than ADF’s summer festival, which encompasses forms as disparate as acrobatics and Afro jazz, hula and hip-hop. Not to mention ADF’s year-round programming, including classes for all ages, community outreach, free performances and studio space for honing skills.

“Dance is like ice cream,” says Louis, who heads up ADF’s community outreach and education programs. “There’s a flavor for everyone.”

With the tagline “The Home of Modern Dance Since 1934,” ADF boldly positions itself as a top player in the world of performing arts. And rightly so. The festival has trained dancers from Merce Cunningham to Madonna; commissioned works from choreographers including Martha Graham and Pilobolus; premiered works by artists including Shen Wei and Paul Taylor; and has presented prestigious annual lifetime achievement awards, most recently to hip-hop maverick Rennie Harris. ADF’s move to Durham in 1978 immediately connected the Triangle to the sophisticated world of high-end performing arts, long before the Durham Performing Arts Center was even a concept.

As curator, Nimerichter sees hundreds of dance performances every year, both in the United States and around the world, as she prowls for exciting, “wonderful” dance to showcase at the

ADF summer festival. “We like to show the breadth and depth of what is happening,” she says, “with a mix of new and established artists.” Nimerichter grew up with ballet before shifting fulltime to arts administration, a background that gives her an eye for classical forms and technique.

Surprisingly, Louis, an amazingly skilled dancer and choreographer, wasn’t even exposed to dance as a child. “As a boy growing up in Haiti, dance was the last thing my parents would have imagined for me,” he says. “And I did what was expected. I played sports, went to college in the U.S., majored in business and did some martial arts.” When a female friend in the dance department begged him to perform in place of an injured dancer, his first response was laughter. “I told her there was no way, that I’d never danced before, that I was shy and hated being on stage.” She told him that dance wasn’t so different from martial arts, and when another friend said he would try it if Louis did, Louis finally agreed. “She was right,” he says. “The movements were fluid and lyrical and strong, like kung fu, but also very free. And while I hated public speaking, I felt amazingly comfortable onstage as a dancer.” The director, desperate for another male in the department, suggested he become a dance minor, which he did. Within a year, he’d changed his major from business to dance, and shortly after graduation he auditioned for and landed a job with Pilobolus, a “dream dance company” with a worldwide reputation.

Now, Louis joyfully leads ADF’s community engagement efforts. “I wish I had this kind of opportunity as a child.” Louis says. He finds that his background helps him relate to the children. “Some of the boys are suspicious of learning to dance,” he says, “but when I show them a video of a Pilobolus performance, with all of its athleticism and strange, unexpected forms, they get interested.” Other kids are shy and quiet, but as he encourages them through creative movement, they become wide and alive. “I can actually see their confidence build in realtime over the course of a class,” he says.

LEFT: Les Ballet Afrik showcases a variety of dance styles, including African, Afrobeat, house and vogue.

Two of the artists selected for ADF’s “Made in NC” showcase last summer really capture the reach and effectiveness of ADF’s community programming. Caroline Calouche, who grew up in Gastonia, says attending ADF’s summer performances exposed her to dancers from New York City and all over the world. “It expanded my mind, for sure,” she says. Catching the ADF enthusiasm for global dance, Calouche traveled to attend performances and workshops in Europe and South America. “In Brazil, I just fell in love with circus.” Now, her company and studio, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center, incorporates elements of dance and circus, including aerial silks, lyra (aerial hoop), trapeze, jazz, acrobatics, hip-hop, juggling, hand balancing and ballet. Calouche brought her unique style to “Made in NC” last summer.“It felt like such a homecoming,” she says. “It’s such a true gift that ADF supports local dance.

“For me, it’s just as important [as performing] to have a studio and to be educating the next generation of dancers.” Calouche says it can be tricky to make an initial connection with some kids. “Kids get exposed to so much more in social media images,” she says. “Some of them don’t want to explore because they worry they’ll look silly. All they see on social media are examples of perfection and success. It’s hard for them to understand the work and discipline needed to succeed in performing arts.”

Kristin Taylor Duncan, another “Made in NC” performer, was also inspired early by ADF. “I just always loved to dance, and was lucky to have had all the encouragement in the world from my parents and community. Seeing ADF performances made a career in dance seem like a real possibility.” Now, Duncan teaches students at all levels, from the very young at the Ballet School of Chapel Hill and high schoolers at Riverside High in Durham, to students at Duke University and ADF.

“For teenagers, there’s a period of re-awakening that needs to happen,” she notes. “They have to re-learn their bodies; they need to be encouraged to allow themselves to move freely again.”

Like Calouche, Duncan’s preferred dance genre has foreign roots—though Calouche imported her circus acts directly from Austria and Brazil, while Duncan adopted her Afro jazz style from the studio she attended growing up in North Carolina. Afro jazz has a long-established history in North Carolina, she says.

Duncan notes that it is very important at every stage of your career to have opportunities like ADF. She says that as a choreographer and teacher, it is vital to connect to the world of dance “outside of the one you create for yourself.”

“I was able to attend the BodyTraffic performance last summer, and the company just blew me away,” Duncan says. “The program was a great fusion of the current risk-taking contemporary dance vibe and the classic modern dance choreography that many of us trained in during our years in undergrad.”

Whether you’re intrigued by acrobatics, hip-hop or Afro jazz, by dance that tells a story, or by more lyrical ballet-inspired performances, ADF has it.

“Come to everything,” Louis suggests. “Experience as many styles as you can and you’ll find one you love. Though,” he adds, “often times, it’s the things you don’t like that stay with you. It’s all worthwhile.”

Check out American Dance Festival’s summer 2024 schedule of performances at americandancefestival.org. Every year, ADF curates three children’s matinees on Saturdays at 1 p.m. The slightly shorter performances are appropriate for children and often welcome interaction with families.

BELOW: Caroline Calouche was selected to dance in ADF’s “Made in NC” showcase last summer.

LEFT: Les Ballet Afrik will perform June 28-29 at Duke University’s Reynolds Industries Theater as part of ADF’s 2024 season.

SHELLACIOUS ACTIVITIES

A coastal conservation center protects, researches and educates the public about NC sea turtles

BY MARILYN JONES

Men, women and children are sitting around a porch waiting for the tour to begin when I arrive at the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center in Surf City on Topsail Island

The doors open shortly after I check in with the tour leader, and we follow volunteer Cindy Kay past the massive Ocean of Memories wall mural and into the world of sea turtles.

At the first station of the tour, we watch a film as Cindy narrates what we are viewing. We learn that from May 1 through August 31, volunteers walk the 26 miles of Topsail Beach looking for turtle nests. In addition to monitoring the nests, volunteers care for injured and sick turtles at the facility with the ultimate goal of returning them to the ocean.

Jean Beasley, the center’s founder, bought a home in Surf City with her husband in 1970. On the first night they lived there a sea turtle laid its eggs on the beach in front of her home, and the turtle and its eggs fascinated Beasley’s daughter Karen.

Jean and Karen Beasley eventually created the Topsail Turtle Project, the first program established in North Carolina to preserve sea turtles. The program’s volunteers cared for the injured sea turtles while monitoring the beach for nests each morning and ensuring that baby sea turtles made the dangerous journey from their nests safely to the water each night.

In 1991, after a long battle with leukemia, Karen passed away. Jean Beasley committed herself to carrying on her daughter’s legacy through sea turtle conservation.“Karen told me before she died that if she didn’t make it, she wanted me to use her life insurance money to help sea turtles,” says Beasley.

Summer interns release Tiger's Eye, a juvenile loggerhead turtle. Photo by Doug Payne/KBSTRRC

In 1997, Beasley used the money Karen left to create the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. The original center was a 900-square-foot space located in the town of Topsail Beach.

In just a decade, the facility became too small for the scale of work the rehabilitation center was doing, so in 2013 a new, 14,000-square-foot facility was opened in Surf City.

In addition to caring for sea turtles, the Surf City space allows for tours and other means by which the center can educate the public. "Guests visiting the Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center get a first-hand view of a working sea turtle hospital. All proceeds from ticket sales, gift shop sales and symbolic adoptions go toward our sea turtle conservation, rehabilitation and education programs,” says Kathy Zagzebski, the center’s executive director. The building of the Surf City facility was made possible by fundraising, donations and support from local businesses.

At each point along the center’s educational trail, visitors learn about the turtles living and nesting along Topsail Island—including loggerhead turtles; green turtles and Kemp’s ridley turtles, both of which are endangered; and leatherback turtles and hawksbill turtles (another critically

THIS

PAGE, TOP: Tour guide Cindy Kay explains the condition of each turtle being treated. Photo by Marilyn Jones. MIDDLE: Lennie, an adult female, is permanently blind in both eyes and cannot be released back into the ocean. Photo by Doug Payne/KBSTRRC. BOTTOM: A volunteer examines Pixie Dust, a juvenile green turtle. Photo by Doug Payne/KBSTRRC.

endangered species), which are occasional residents of the region.

Further along the tour, visitors enter a large room where the facility cares for injured turtles in a series of saltwater pools. The center “combines state-ofthe-art facilities, expert medical care and dedicated turtle care teams that help sick and injured sea turtles recover so they may be released back into the ocean,” says Zagzebski. She adds, “We treat various illnesses and injuries, including cold-stunning, hypothermia, debilitated turtle syndrome, entanglement, plastic ingestion, plastic entanglement, fish hook injuries, boat strikes, and shark and predator bites. In our 25-year history we have cared for over 1,300 sea turtles.”

The tour discusses each turtle and its medical situation. The facility ’s patients most often sustain injuries from boat propellers, debris from the shoreline, predator attacks, changing water temperatures and guild nets from commercial fishermen.

When they can, volunteers return sea turtles to the wild. If life in the ocean is no longer possible for the turtle, the facility finds it a suitable home in an accredited zoo or aquarium.

The facility depends on the help of veterinarians from North Carolina State University’s Veterinary Hospital. Veterinarians and volunteers ensure that each turtle receives personal physical therapy, medicin, and specially formulated diets administered through hands-free feeding in order to make certain that turtles will not depend on humans upon release.

Visitors also learn about the perils facing the turtles, including litter and plastics. We learn that the marine ecosystem depends upon the health of its sea turtles.

Turtles maintain seagrass beds and coral reefs, control jellyfish and sponge populations, and transport nutrients to other parts of the ocean and the beach. By helping sea turtles, we can help keep oceans healthy for the benefit of animals and people.

The center emphasizes that individual actions do make a difference. “Whether or not you live near the coast, there is a lot you can do to help sea turtles,” says Zagzebski. “Replace single-use plastic with more sustainable alternatives, recycle everything possible and dispose of trash responsibly.

"Remember—all drains lead to the ocean.” She adds, “Use your voice and advocate for sea turtles and healthy oceans! Vote for candidates that support these goals. Vote with your wallet and choose to purchase sustainable products. And support sea turtle conservation organizations.”

VISITING THE KAREN BEASLEY SEA TURTLE RESCUE AND REHABILITATION CENTER

The center is located at 302 Tortuga Lane in Surf City, about 45 minutes north of Wilmington. Admission is $5 for children ages 3-12, $6 for military and seniors, and $7 for everyone else. The timed tours last about 45 minutes. For more information, visit seaturtlehospital.org.

Visitor Ainsley Moore listens as a volunteer talks to her about Snooki, the turtle in the nearby tank. Photo by Marilyn Jones

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FOR THE LOVE OF H CKEY

Raleigh teenager has elevated her game to the international level

By Kurt Dusterberg

Mary Derrenbacher has sacrificed for the game of  hockey.

By the time the Raleigh teenager reached the eighth grade, she had logged years of playing exclusively against boys, spent summers in the Northeast seeking girls’ competition, then moved 1,000 miles away from her family.

Today, the outcome of those choices is clear: She is one of the top amateur hockey players in the world. Derrenbacher, who is 15 years old, made a splash on the world stage in January as the youngest member of the gold medal–winning U.S. team at the 2024 IIHF Under-18 Women’s World Championship in Switzerland. Derrenbacher didn’t just make the U.S. roster; she was one of the top scorers. She earned eight points in six games, including a goal against Finland in the semifinals.

“It was an unreal experience, just being in another country,” she says. “To really contribute and feel like I helped the team was unreal.”

At first glance, Derrenbacher’s success at the international level seems improbable. Not only were most of the players a year or two older, but at 5 feet 3 inches tall, she is on the small side. When you consider how her career was shaped, however, it’s hardly surprising she has pushed past any obstacles.

The roadblocks were present from the earliest days of her career. She fell in love with hockey at the age of 3, watching her older brother, Jack, play the game. After a year of figure skating at age 6 (“I didn’t like that,” Mary says emphatically), she began playing hockey—first in a junior program with the Carolina Eagles through age 8, then with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes from ages 9–13. Not only were they all-boys teams, but the skill level increased with each age group. “They were all very good— better than me, mostly,” she says. “Playing with them, I felt like I could keep up with them.”

It was an unreal experience, just being in another country.

Eventually her parents sought out competition for her in the ranks of girls hockey, but that meant playing tournaments with the Boston Lady Whalers from April to July. “When I switched to playing with girls, I really excelled,” Derrenbacher says.

But nothing compared to her decision to leave home before eighth grade. Derrenbacher, a freshman, attends ShattuckSt. Mary’s boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota, known for its elite hockey program. “I was nervous coming here. It was kind of last minute, about two months before I had to move in,” she says. “It changed my life so drastically. Once I came here, I realized that this is what I like and this is what I want to do.

“I always knew that playing with boys was going to end. So I was looking for where the best girls program was, and obviously that’s Shattuck. I really wanted to come here. I just had to make the jump to living away from home and handling hockey and school all by myself.”

The boarding school schedule is filled with routine. The day begins with morning workouts, followed by classes and a 90-minute practice—all before lunch. The afternoons

Derrenbacher attends Shattuck-St. Mary's boarding school in Minnesota, known for its elite hockey program. She has played the sport since the tender age of 7.

PHOTOS

bring more schoolwork and on-ice skill sessions. The fastpaced, hockey-focused life is everything Mary wants, but not surprisingly, it leaves her parents with mixed feelings. There is a fine line between giving children the opportunity to excel beyond expectations and holding on to the traditional roles of moms and dads.

“As a parent, that’s a really hard decision to let your kid go at that age,” says her father, Chris Derrenbacher. “Christy, Mary’s mom, and I didn’t feel like we were done with Mary yet. We just knew that with her work ethic, her God-given talents and her love for the game, we felt like we would be holding her back if we kept her here.”

And with that decision, Mary was free to flourish. She plays for the school’s Girls U16 team, her weekends filled with tournament play against other prep schools and club teams. The high-level competition helps improve her game. “Being strong, so I don’t get pushed off pucks, is a big thing,” she says. “Also being quick, always moving, is a way to get around bigger people.”

Eventually, she will set her sights on playing for a prominent Division I school, but she will have two more opportunities to play in the Under-18 Women’s World Championship. She hopes to be a leader on those teams. “Obviously when you go up in age, the game just gets faster and smarter, and you make quicker decisions,” Derrenbacher says. “You use the older girls to look up to and see how they deal with pressure.”

Down the road, there will be additional opportunities. Shane Willis, who coached Derrenbacher during her Junior Canes years, expects she will be ready for the challenge, whether it’s the Olympics or the Professional Women’s Hockey League.

“She worked extremely hard, whether she was skating or working out with the boys, and her skill level continued to grow,” Willis says. “Now we kind of sit back and watch this go, because she is going to continue to work as hard as she can. When it’s her time, the sky’s the limit.”

COURTESY OF SHATTUCKST. MARY'S AND CHRIS DERRENBACHER

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES in the Triangle for TEENS AND TWEENS

BY JANICE LEWINE

Volunteering is one of the best ways for students to develop a sense of purpose, connect with their community and learn valuable skills. Whether they’re restocking a local food pantry, assisting at a pet shelter or cleaning up a neighborhood, young people can make an impact through service learning while exploring their interests and passions. The Triangle offers countless ways for teens and tweens to donate their time to worthwhile causes. Here are 20 to check out.

A PLACE AT THE TABLE

The pay-what-you-can cafe in downtown Raleigh provides food for all, regardless of means. Ages 15 and older can run food, clean tables, wash dishes and roll silverware. tableraleigh.org/volunteer

ACTIVATE GOOD

Activate Good’s Youth Volunteer Corps of the Greater Triangle offers opportunities for ages 11–18 to assist in a variety of local causes. activategood.org/take-action/youth-families-andschools/yvc

ANIMAL PROTECTION SOCIETY OF DURHAM

Ages 14 and older can help the shelter with hospitality, adoption counseling and more. Volunteers must be 16 or older to walk dogs without adult supervision, and 15 or older to volunteer with cats without adult supervision. apsofdurham.org/how-you-can-help/volunteer

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF DURHAM AND ORANGE COUNTIES

With locations in Durham and Chapel Hill, Boys & Girls Clubs welcomes students ages 16 and older to help the nonprofit with a variety of tasks, including physical education instruction for younger children, administrative duties, and classroom and special events assistance. bgcdoc.org/volunteer

DORCAS MINISTRIES

Dorcas Ministries in Cary provides financial and food assistance to community members in need. Volunteers work in the thrift shop and food pantry. Ages 14 and older may volunteer independently; families can volunteer together if children are at least 12 years old. dorcasnc.org/get-involved/volunteer

FUQUAY-VARINA EMERGENCY FOOD PANTRY

Ages 15 and older can assist the food pantry with a variety of tasks. fvfoodpantry.com/volunteer

THE GREEN CHAIR PROJECT

The Green Chair Project in Raleigh provides furnishings and housing essentials to families transitioning into stable housing. Ages 13 and older can assist the nonprofit by processing donations, assisting in the warehouse and more. An adult must accompany volunteers younger than 15. thegreenchair.org/volunteer-your-time

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY

Volunteers must be 16 or older to build and repair homes for families in Wake, Durham and Orange counties. habitat.org/volunteer

THE MIRACLE LEAGUE OF THE TRIANGLE

The Miracle League’s buddy system pairs a player with special needs with a volunteer helper age 12 or older to enjoy the game of baseball. Baseball fields are located in Cary, Durham and Raleigh. mltriangle.com/volunteer

NORTH CAROLINA DOWN SYNDROME ALLIANCE

The nonprofit offers a variety of local opportunities for ages 16 and older to assist individuals with Down syndrome. ncdsalliance.org/volunteer

OAK CITY CARES

Oak City Cares in Raleigh helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness. Students ages 9–17 may volunteer for Oak City Cares’ weekend meal program with adult supervision. oakcitycares.org/volunteer

PIEDMONT FARM ANIMAL REFUGE

Ages 10–18 may perform essential tasks alongside a parent or guardian to keep the Pittsboro sanctuary running. piedmontrefuge.org/volunteer

PLANET PEACE FARM

All ages may groom and feed animals, clean pastures, and plant and harvest vegetables at this east Raleigh farm dedicated to youth. planetpeaceful.org/contribute

ALICE AYCOCK POE CENTER FOR HEALTH EDUCATION

The Poe Center for Health Education in Raleigh helps North Carolinians make healthy lifestyle choices. Ages 14 and older may assist with daily operations by helping in the garden, working the front desk, and preparing materials and props for programs. poehealth.org/who-we-are/volunteer

RALEIGH RESCUE MISSION

The Raleigh Rescue Mission helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness. The minimum age to volunteer on-site is 16; off-site volunteer options for individuals younger than 16 are listed on the website. raleighrescue.org/ways-to-give/volunteer

SAFE HAVEN FOR CATS

Ages 16 and older may perform various tasks without a parent or guardian at this Raleigh cat shelter; students younger than 16 may volunteer with parental supervision for shelter cleaning, monthly food distribution or reading to cats. safehavenforcats.org/volunteer/youth-volunteering

THE SALVATION ARMY OF WAKE COUNTY

With adult supervision, volunteers ages 14 and older may feed the hungry in Raleigh by working in the soup kitchen and washing dishes.

southernusa.salvationarmy.org/wake/all-volunteeropportunities

SECOND CHANCE PET ADOPTIONS

Second Chance in Raleigh rescues stray or abandoned cats and dogs. Ages 16 and older may assist with cat care, greeting visitors and other needs at the facility. secondchancenc.org/volunteer

TABLE

Table in Carrboro provides healthy food and nutrition education for children. All ages can sort and bag food, prepare garden beds and harvest produce. tablenc.org/get-involved

URBAN MINISTRIES OF WAKE COUNTY

Ages 16 and older may help independently to pack boxes with groceries and organize food shelves at the facility in Raleigh; a participating adult must assist ages 13–15. urbanmin.org/get-involved/volunteer

with TIPS

for Traveling Neurodivergent Kids

BY DR. EMILY W. KING, PH.D.

If you are raising a neurodivergent child, you might feel like a vacation seems out of reach for your family. Your child may be easily overwhelmed, eat a limited variety of foods or struggle to deviate from their daily routine. While it takes some practice, I’ve seen travel create great benefits for autistic children as well as those with ADHD and anxiety. School is sometimes hard for neurodivergent kids, so allowing them to explore deep interests outside of their daily routine can lead to expanding their skills and gaining confidence.

TIP #1

MATCH THE TRIP WITH YOUR KID’S ENERGY

Successful travel begins with planning. The first mindset shift to make is that this is not a vacation; it’s a family field trip. Start by making sure the activities match your child’s skills and energy level. Active theme parks for children with sensory sensitivities or an unstructured day for high-energy kids may end with everyone feeling irritable, bored, or both. You will make more memories with your child if they are comfortable and engaged.

TIP #2

PAIR ADVENTURES WITH INTERESTS

Be sure to incorporate your child’s interests and passions into family trips. I’ve worked with families that plan trips around certain museums or historical landmarks rather than a popular travel destination, and their child is thrilled.

Incorporating interests into the plan often motivates children to push through new challenges in travel logistics to an overall experience that often expands their thinking and helps them know that there is a world beyond their daily routine.

TIP #3

TEACH TRAVEL LOGISTICS

Traveling takes practice. Start small and start with the familiar. Begin your child’s travel practice with a “sleepover” with a grandparent or relative. Since this person and their home is already familiar, your child is only practicing the process of traveling without a long trip or new people.

Teach your child to make a packing list, pack an overnight bag, and think of toys and games to take along. The goal here is to practice taking their routine to a different location, sleeping in a different bed and eating at a different table with food prepared by someone else. Once they get their travel plan down at Grandma’s house, you can expand it to a family trip.

Photo by Mat Hayward

/ Adobe Stock Photos

TIP #4

PRACTICE NAVIGATING TRANSPORTATION

The act of actually getting to the destination is often what stops many families from traveling. The car ride is too long, siblings are fighting or the airport has too many rules. Start with what your child can do and expand from there.

If your child can tolerate a 30-minute car ride, find a destination in that range and make it a trip!

Help your child process the travel plan with visuals. If your child thinks spatially, use a map. If they think in time frames, use schedules. If they love numbers, count mile markers or airport terminals. If they love pictures, make a picture book. Visualizing the process helps children learn the plan without feeling the anxiety of the situation simultaneously.

TIP #5

RINSE AND REPEAT

Like every other skill your child has learned, traveling takes practice. If you find a destination your child loves yet they still need practice on the drive, the hotel stay or trying new foods, repeat the same trip several times to help them build these skills. It may take several years for neurodivergent children to master a travel schedule, but with repetition they will likely start thinking about the future and wondering what they are capable of next. I cannot think of a more precious gift.

Dr. Emily W. King, Ph.D., is a child psychologist and former school psychologist who specializes in working with neurodivergent children. Learn more about her services at learnwithdremily.com.

Photo by Jenko Ataman \ Adobe Stock Photos

CARY DOG DAZE AND PET EXPO

May 4, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Cary Police Department

120 Wilkinson Avenue, Cary

Take your four-legged friend to enjoy tail-wagging excitement, doggy demonstrations, agility courses and a vendor village at the Cary Police Department. carync.gov

APEX PEAKFEST

May 4, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

Downtown Apex

Celebrate the Peak of Good Living with arts and crafts vendors, festival food, live entertainment and a Kids Zone with inflatables. apexpeakfest.com

SUPER DUPER DUCK SPLASH

May 4, 2 p.m.

Downtown Wake Forest

Adopt a yellow duck online for $5 and watch it race to the finish line for a chance to win cash and other prizes totaling more than $3,000. Presented by the Wakefield Rotary Club, this annual fundraiser benefits youth nonprofit initiatives in the community. duckrace.com/wakeforest

CARRBORO DAY

May 5, 1–5 p.m.

Carrboro Town Commons

301 W. Main Street, Carrboro

Enjoy poetry readings, crafts, interactive family games, a seedling planting with the Carrboro Farmers Market and a display of public works vehicles. carrbororec.org/301/carrboro-day

WILD ABOUT NATURE

May 11, 1–4 p.m.

Sugg Farm at Bass Lake Park

2401 Grigsby Avenue, Holly Springs

Discover live animals from around the world, play nature-themed games and learn about conservation efforts. hollyspringsnc.gov

“CINDERELLA”

May 16–19

Raleigh Memorial Auditorium

2 E. South Street, Raleigh

Carolina Ballet’s tale of the enduring power of love is set against a backdrop of magical transformations and a grand royal ball. Purchase tickets online. carolinaballet.com/cinderella

GOT TO BE NC FESTIVAL

May 17–19

North Carolina State Fairgrounds

4285 Trinity Road, Raleigh

Celebrate the state’s agriculture with farm-themed activities, live animals, puppet shows, a butterfly barn and North Carolina–style cuisine. gottobencfestival.com

BIMBÉ CULTURAL ARTS FESTIVAL

May 18, 1–7 p.m.

Rock Quarry Park

701 Stadium Drive, Durham

The 54th Bimbé Cultural Arts Festival honors African and African American history, arts and traditions. dprplaymore.org

P HOTO COURTESY OF WAKEFIELD ROTARY CLUB

P HOTO B Y BRUSNIKAPHOTO, ADOBE STOCK

P HOTO B Y M ONKEY BUSINESS / ADOBE STOCK

DIX PARK INTER-TRIBAL POW WOW

May 18, 11:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m.

Harvey Hill, Dorothea Dix Park

101 Blair Drive, Raleigh

Native dance competitions, music and vendors celebrate the legacy and culture of Indigenous communities living in North Carolina. dixpark.org/powwow

WHEELS ON ACADEMY

May 18, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

N. Academy Street, Downtown Cary

See the cars of yesteryear alongside today’s modern hot rods and exotic cars. Kids can climb aboard favorite trucks and heavy machinery in the Touch-A-Truck area and watch a 1917 Model T being taken apart and put back together. carync.gov

TASTE OF SOUL NC

May 25, 3–8 p.m.

501 Foster Street, Durham

Durham Central Park hosts a cookout featuring local food vendors, a DJ, live performances, games and a bounce house. tasteofsoulnc.com

CHAPEL HILL–CARRBORO JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

June 16, 2 p.m.

Hargraves Community Center

216 N. Roberson Street, Chapel Hill

Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States. Take the family for cultural performances, kids activities and food trucks. chapelhillarts.org

FAMILY BINGO NIGHT

June 28, 6–8 p.m.

Apex Senior Center

63 Hunter Street, Apex

Play multiple versions of classic bingo to earn prizes, including Apex swag. Register online using code #15295; $10 per person. apexnc.org

RHYTHM & REELS

June 22; Concert starts at 7 p.m.

June 29; Movie starts at dusk

Apex Nature Park Amphitheatre

2600 Evans Road, Apex

Pack a picnic basket and enjoy a family-friendly concert with Greylan Hall & The Nasty Kings on June 22 or the movie “Barbie” on June 29.

apexnc.org

Be sure to check the websites for these events before you head out to ensure they are still taking place.

P HOTO B Y M EHANIQ41 / ADOBE STOCK

COME HUNGRY

New treats to taste, opportunities to learn and recipes to try

Dirt Cups

This popular children’s dessert isn’t just fun to eat—it’s also a creative way to get little hands involved. Even better, there is no baking or making a mess at the kitchen table. If you have a fussy eater, it’s easy to customize the treat for individual taste.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups cold milk

• 1 (3.9-ounce) package instant chocolate pudding

• 8 ounces frozen whipped topping, thawed

• 1½ cups crumbled chocolate sandwich cookies (about 16), divided

• 20 gummy worms

DIRECTIONS

Use as many as ten plastic cups (7–9 ounce). Whisk together milk and pudding mix until the powder is dissolved. Let stand for five minutes to thicken. Stir in the whipped topping and ½ cup of the cookies. Spoon the mixture into cups. Cover with the remaining cookie crumbles and refrigerate for an hour. When you’re ready to eat, layer on the gummy worms.

SUGGESTIONS

There’s no limit to combinations you can try. Change your instant pudding flavor to vanilla, butterscotch, banana, coconut cream or others. For cookie crumbles, try a different cream center (mint, peanut butter)—or even a completely different cookie. Graham crackers, shortbread, animal crackers and vanilla wafers all work well to switch up the recipe.

TASTE

Corbett’s Burgers & Soda Bar 126 Kilmayne Drive, Cary corbettsburgers.com

Corbett’s makes sure the family dining experience offers something for everyone. The burgers are plump and juicy, and the Nathan’s hot dogs are served with imaginative toppings. Take the BBQ Soda Dog featuring bacon, Cheerwine barbecue sauce, grilled onions and cheddar cheese, for example. Specialty milkshakes, Moon Pies and an endless variety of vintage soft drinks will make the decisions extra hard for kids.

Eggs Up Grill 1421 Kelly Road, Apex eggsupgrill.com/apex

Everybody loves a good breakfast, and Eggs Up Grill has you covered from 6 a.m.–2 p.m. Morning favorites like oatmeal, omelets, and bacon and eggs are available in combinations, as are their popular griddled items. Feeling more adventurous? Choose a bowl, a Benedict or shrimp and grits.

The Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education 224 Sunnybrook Road, Raleigh poehealth.org/plan-a-program

The CookWELL Kitchen at the Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education uses a dedicated teaching space designed to encourage healthy food choices, preferences and attitudes. Programs focus on basic kitchen safety, nutrition, and making simple, healthy snacks and meals. The programs are led by ServSafetrained professionals. Among the programs is Muffin Mystery, suited for 6th–12th grade. Students lead a tasty STEM experiment as they use the scientific method to prepare blueberry muffins. They develop a hypothesis on how substitutions impact the food, then evaluate the results. The CookWELL Kitchen can comfortably accommodate up to 16 people and has four workstations.

BB’s Crispy Chicken

1147 Parkside Main Street, Cary 2920 Sherman Oak Place, Unit 140, Raleigh 3109 Shannon Road, Suite 100, Durham bbscrispychicken.com

The BB’s concept was inspired by the fried chicken recipe that chef and co-founder Ashley Christensen has perfected over the course of her cooking career in the South. Sandwiches, nuggets and tenders are the favorites, but there are salads, sides, wraps and sauces to satisfy a range of appetites.

P HOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER N. BELL

P HOTO COURTESY OF JANICE LEWINE

IT ALL JUST CLICKED

After team sports, Cary senior found his niche with fencing

Aiden Click was like a lot of young kids. He played a little soccer, gave basketball a try. He tried out swimming.

“I enjoyed them, but they weren’t my thing, so I was looking for other sports,” Click says.

His father mentioned that he had fenced while studying at Virginia Tech University, and the idea really intrigued Aiden. “I went to a summer camp there for a week and really loved it,” he says. “So I started classes the next season.”

The sport has held his attention ever since. He trains out of Apex Fencing Academy, and has made a habit of piling up medals at tournaments around the region and the country. The Cardinal Gibbons High School senior is headed to UNC–Chapel Hill on a fencing scholarship in the fall.

“For me, it’s the strategy,” he says. “Figuring out the opponent is like a puzzle. It’s not as straightforward as you would think. Obviously, there are rules you have to follow, but the actions can be different depending on who you are fencing. There are a lot of tiny adjustments you have to make, and I love doing that.”

Click, an epee fencer (the epee is a thrusting sword), has had success at the highest levels of his sport. Last year, he won third place in the U-20 division at the Division I North America Cup, the highest level of competition in the United States, and he previously finished third at the Junior Olympics for cadets (under 17). He has also traveled the world for his sport—he won a gold medal in an event in France two years ago and has also competed in Serbia and Slovakia.

“It’s the next level of competition up from the national events, and it’s nice to see other styles,” Click says. “The U.S. has its own style. Outside, it’s completely different. Everything kind of changes. It’s fun to try things and experience that.”

Fencing also brings about an interesting family dynamic. Aiden’s 15-year-old brother, Tristan, is a travel soccer player but also a fencer. The two met in the finals of a tournament in Wilmington recently, where Aiden earned the brotherly bragging rights.

Aiden plans to pursue engineering at UNC, and he expects to feel comfortable when he arrives on campus. He has friends at the school, and he knows UNC head coach Matt Jednak, who coached him at the North America Cup.

“I’m looking forward to both training with him and training with better fencers who are more competitive,” Click says. “They do separate strength training and they have a program in sports therapy, so it’s much more team bonding stuff. I look forward to that.”

Aiden Click (LEFT) and his brother Tristan met in the finals of a recent tournament.

Aiden Click (RIGHT) won a gold medal in an event in France two years ago.

Madilynn (16) of Wake Forest shines on stage as Catherine of Aragon in “Six The Musical: Teen Edition” at Heritage High School in Wake Forest. Bra·ve·ry [bray-vuh-ree]

having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear or difficulty

Want to be in the Tfam Club?

Go to trianglefamilymag.com to submit a photo and description that includes your child’s first name, age, town or city, and location where the photo was taken. By submitting your photo, you’ll also receive special Tfam Club deals and discounts.

P HOTO COURTESY OF JENNIFER NIESEL