Cooperative Extension at N.C. A&T’s efforts to collaborate and encourage STEM in its programming was recognized during the annual conference of the 2026 North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals.

Three staff members won awards at the conference held in Asheville, North Carolina, on Aug. 19.

Keli Boone, a Gates County Extension agent, and Vicki Wiggins, a Hertford County Extension agent, received the Excellence in Teamwork Award. Boone and Wiggins collaborated to create the Reality of Ag program, an interactive agricultural literacy experience for rural youth. Through hands-on career stations and industry partnerships, the program increases awareness of agriculture, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) and food systems while preparing students for future careers in agriculture and natural resources.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we have built through Reality of Ag,” Boone said. “Seeing the impact we’ve made by sparking curiosity, growing agricultural awareness and helping youth across rural Eastern North Carolina see the opportunities agriculture offers is what makes this award so meaningful.”

“It’s very humbling,” Wiggins said of the award. As for the program: “To see those light-bulb moments where the kids say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know that was ag’ is awesome,” Wiggins said. “It’s pretty cool just to expose them to so many opportunities.”

4-H STEM Specialist Mark Light, Ph.D., (center) was a member of two winning teams at the 2026 North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals. The teams were awarded the Educational Technology Award and Jim Kahler Excellence in STEM Programming Award. Also pictured are Joel Dixon, state association president, and Shannon McCollum, Ph.D., Interim N.C. State 4-H Program Leader.

4-H STEM Specialist Mark Light, Ph.D., also won accolades as a member of teams recognized with the Educational Technology Award and the Jim Kahler Excellence in STEM Programming Award.

The Educational Technology Award was given for a 10-state collaborative project that transformed CLOVER by 4‑H into an easily accessible technology platform for AI literacy.

“Our AI Literacy Team worked together to create online lessons for youth on AI and agriculture for the CLOVER by 4-H platform,” Light said. “By collaborating, there are now eight modules online for all 50 states to use. "

The Jim Kahler Excellence in STEM Programming Award was given for a three-day summer STEM camp organized in the North Central District. Topics included Rube Goldberg challenges, LEGO robotics, Sphero, blueprints, drones, and AI. Evaluations indicated the program resulted in significantly increased knowledge, positive behavior changes and elevated career-ready skills among participants.

"Rather than each county hosting their own STEM camp, the North Central region came together and collaborated, giving youth the option for many sessions with a variety of speakers,” Light said. “I was able to share AI literacy lessons with youth from multiple counties at the same event."

More than 260,000 young people ages 5 through 18 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year, supported by 16,700 adult and youth volunteers.