ROCKINGHAM - Two rising juniors started school a bit early this year as they joined the class of 2020 at the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (NCSSM) August 11. Robert (Kevin) Aiken and Joshua (JJ) Bruce set their sights on NCSSM admission as ninth graders, taking the most challenging courses, earning honors and taking the SAT as sophomores.
A constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system, NCSSM was the first of its kind in the US-- a two-year, public residential high school focused on technology, science and math. Located in Durham, tenth grade North Carolinians are eligible to apply for the coveted positions through a competitive review process.
From the NCSSM website, “The mission of North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics is to: educate academically talented students to become state, national, and global leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics; advance public education in North Carolina; and inspire innovation for the betterment of humankind, through challenging residential, online, summer, and virtual learning driven by instructional excellence and the excitement of discovery.”
Kevin is the son of Drs. Kevin and Irene Aiken of Rockingham. JJ is the son of Melanie and Jason Bruce of Hamlet.
