District C students pitch real-world solutions at North Lenoir High School
Twenty-eight students from across Lenoir County showcased their problem-solving skills last week during the District C Summer Teamship program, presenting innovative solutions to real challenges faced by local businesses.
The July 24 pitch presentations, hosted at North Lenoir High School, brought together nine student teams paired with three community partners — the Community Council for the Arts, Neuse Regional Libraries and Pink Hill Chiropractic. Teams spent seven days researching, interviewing, and brainstorming to help their assigned businesses tackle real-world problems, with Day 8 culminating in a pitch event.
Dr. Travis Towne, who served as the District Captain for the summer session, said the goal of District C is to give students an opportunity to work in professional team settings, solving authentic problems while building communication and leadership skills.
“This program allows our students to think critically, collaborate with peers they’ve never worked with before, and develop solutions that businesses can actually use,” Towne said. “It’s real-world experience that can’t be replicated in a classroom.”
District C Focuses on Communication and Outreach
Eight teams of students tackled marketing, outreach, and community engagement challenges for local organizations.
One group of teams, coached by Michelle Taylor, partnered with Neuse Regional Libraries to address a recurring issue: many parents and students were unaware they could use the Libby app to access e-books over the summer on personal devices. After multiple interviews with library staff and site visits, the students proposed a targeted communication plan. Their solutions included distributing handouts to parents during children’s events, placing colorful posters in youth and teen sections, and boosting outreach before summer reading programs begin each year.
Another group of teams, coached by Sara Levin, collaborated with Pink Hill Chiropractic to modernize its outreach to younger clients. The students researched website design trends and social media strategies, recommending a revamped online presence, updated flyers, and an educational campaign highlighting the long-term benefits of chiropractic care. They also designed a mock internship program to help the business maintain a consistent social media presence throughout the year.
A third group of teams, coached by Christy Burkett, worked with the Community Council for the Arts, proposing a student internship program to help the organization expand event promotion and boost social media engagement among younger audiences.
Learning Beyond the Classroom
Amy Jones, director of Career and Technical Education for Lenoir County Public Schools, praised the students’ work and the program’s growth since its launch four years ago.
“Every year, this camp gets bigger and better,” Jones said. “Our students are becoming more professional, better communicators, and stronger critical thinkers because of opportunities like District C. These projects don’t just benefit the businesses — they prepare students for life after high school.”
Towne said he was proud of how the teams embraced challenges, especially those outside their comfort zones. “Watching these students step up, lead discussions, and present actionable solutions shows how impactful this program can be,” he said.
District C will return to Lenoir County next summer, continuing its mission to connect students, schools, and local businesses through real-world collaboration.
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