Students pitch solutions to local business partners through Teamship program

North Lenoir High School hosted a pitch event for the Lenoir County Summer 2026 Teamship program, giving students the opportunity to present solutions to real business challenges after eight days of work-based learning.

Dr. Travis Towne said the program, formerly known as District C, is now under the College Board Teamship umbrella. Towne said Lenoir County Public Schools first partnered with District C five years ago, including a 2022 Teamship program spread across Kinston, North Lenoir and South Lenoir.

“This is a great way for these students to have a really neat opportunity,” Towne said.

The 2026 program included 20 students who met Monday through Thursday for two weeks, working from about 8 a.m. to noon. Towne said most of the participants were rising freshmen and sophomores, with some juniors and seniors also taking part.

“These teams of high school students have been working to solve real business problems for real businesses,” Towne said.

Before the student presentations began, two Teamship alumni spoke about their experiences in the program. They said Teamship helped them improve communication, teamwork and business skills while allowing them to meet new people.

Students were divided into six teams and assigned to three local partners: Community Council for the Arts, the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office and Hampton by Hilton Kinston.

Teams working with Community Council for the Arts were asked to find ways to authentically connect with younger generations and help ensure a sustainable future for the council and the artists it supports.

Teams working with the Lenoir County Sheriff’s Office were asked to develop a strategy to tell a more compelling story about careers in public service and help build a stronger pipeline of qualified candidates committed to the agency’s mission.

Teams working with Hampton by Hilton Kinston were asked to create a strategy to rebuild community awareness, increase occupancy to a sustainable level and reestablish the hotel as a go-to destination for events in Kinston.

Each pitch session included about 10 minutes for student presentations followed by about 15 minutes of questions and discussion with the business partners. Towne encouraged the business partners to ask detailed questions about the proposals and the students’ experiences visiting the businesses.

“We are the only Teamship program that goes out and actually visits those businesses,” Towne said. “There’s a value in going to actually see the businesses and where they are.”

Towne said the pitch event was designed to show the growth students experienced during the program and to give parents, school representatives, business partners and guests a chance to see students present their work.

The event ended with students, families and guests returning for a final wrap-up and feedback.