Congratulations to the flag football team which hosted the first state playoff game in school history this past Saturday. The team defeated Cary High School 34-6 and now advances to the 3rd round against Cardinal Gibbons.
Shout-out to Ms. Battle, Ms. Manning, Ms. Hardnett, and Ms. Abdullah for organizing an awesome Halloween event Friday afternoon for EC AU and EC MU students.
As part of National Principals Month, a big shout-out to our very own Dr. Woods-Weeks for being an amazing principal who works tirelessly on behalf of all students, families, and teachers everyday
Shout-out to Mr. Holley, Ms. Jaffe and all of our Haunted House club members for hosting a truly terrifying Haunted House this weekend.
Congratulations to Major Bond, Sgt. Major McPherson and all of our JROTC students for earning the following honors in Unarmed at the Red, White, and Blue Drill Competition in Fayetteville, NC at 71st High School:
1st Place in Flight Unarmed Regulation Drill led by Cadet JB Mathieu
1st Place in Color Guard Armed Regulation Drill led by Cadet Jordan Ramos Casia
1st Place in Armed Knockout competition by Cadet Jorge Rameriz Perez
2nd Place in Armed Knockout competition by Cadet Tanner Wical
1st Place in Flight Unarmed Regulation Drill led by Cadet JB Mathieu
1st Place in Color Guard Armed Regulation Drill led by Cadet Jordan Ramos Casia
1st Place in Armed Knockout competition by Cadet Jorge Rameriz Perez
2nd Place in Armed Knockout competition by Cadet Tanner Wical
Congratulations to Ms. Moore and the following students for their participation in the All-County Orchestra concert on Wednesday evening: Grace Hochstetler, Yair GranekLauren Johnson, Michael Madrid Hernandez, Libby (Elisabeth) Pormann, Olive Ashkenes, Jesse May, Annabel Kruse. Andrew Davis, Ellie (Elliot) Angerer
Shout-out to Mr. Nguyen and our Red Cross Club for their community service project with the Diaper Bank of North Carolina.
Thank you to everyone who participated the PLTW Engineering Friday Speaker Series (photos by R. Patridge)
Andrew Jones
Andrew grew up in Durham and graduated from the PLTW program at Riverside before earning a Civil Engineering degree from Duke University. While at Duke, Andrew began working as an engineer for Kimley-Horn in 2011 focusing on stormwater and flood mitigation projects in North Carolina. Andrew worked on many local projects for the City of Durham including the Eno River and New Hope Creek Watershed Improvement plans. Andrew began working with Civil Consultants in 2020 and now focuses on private land development projects in the Durham and the surrounding communities. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys running and chasing three young kids around Durham’s parks and greenways.
Chris Rossi
As the owner and sole employee of Dusky Electronics, Chris Rossi designs and builds electronic equipment for musical instruments, including vacuum tube guitar amplifiers and analog effects pedals. Chris is especially interested in the intersection between art and engineering and sees both as different sides of the same creative drive that makes all of us human.
Adam Mckenzie
Adam graduated Riverside in 2010 and attended Georgia Tech, graduating with a degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2015. He has worked his entire career in product development, engineering across a range of products at Electrolux/Frigidaire, Masterack, and now at Graco Children’s Products where he develops and tests car seats. At Graco he has held multiple roles starting as Senior Engineer, then Principal, Lead, and now Manager.
Afternoon Speakers:
John Feller
John Feller graduated from Riverside in 2025 and is currently in his sophomore year at NC State University studying Mechanical Engineering. He has completed two study abroad experiences in Ecuador and South Korea, where he worked on engineering projects studying water quality and creating a prototype for a video game to teach students about the protocols of the Korean Disease Agency.
Chuck Pell
Chuck Pell is an inventor, engineer, entrepreneur, designer, TEDMED speaker, and TV Host of the Emmy Award-winning Xploration Earth2050. Chuck’s work weaves biomechanics, aerospace, robotics, art, and commerce. He co-founded Nekton (underwater robotics) and Physcient (surgical robotics), founded Maelstrom (fluid propulsion), and served as an advisor & investor to Planetary Resources (asteroid mining). Chuck also co-launched Duke University Zoology’s BioDesign Studio and created foundational technology to launch Parata Systems (pharmaceutical robotics). With dozens of patents, engineering, & biology publications to his credit, Chuck’s projects have ranged from biomimetic underwater robots to automated bloodless surgical tools, offering vivid examples of how biology, engineering, teamwork, & design interact to shape practical inventions that are now in widespread use. Chuck has a BFA from Western Michigan University and an MFA from Notre Dame.
Jennifer Kornu and Ozioma Ozigbo
Jennifer Kafui Kornu is an electrical engineer and a master’s student in Climate and
Sustainability Engineering at Duke University, specializing in energy systems. She has
worked on power plants and electrical infrastructure in Ghana and recently completed
an internship at SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI), supporting the electrical
systems that power large data centers.
Interested in all things energy, Jennifer is involved in campus initiatives through the
Pratt Energy and Sustainability Club and Duke Energy Week. She looks forward to
sharing her journey, answering students’ questions and helping them explore how
engineering connects to everyday life and the possibilities of a career in the field.
Ozioma Ozigbo is a master of engineering student in climate & sustainability
engineering at Duke University, with a background in mechanical and energy
engineering from the University of North Texas. After beginning her career in research
and development for power electronics, she shifted her focus toward advancing
affordable, reliable and sustainable energy systems that expand access and improve
quality of life.
She serves as co-chair of Duke Energy Week, president of the Pratt Energy &
Sustainability Club, engagement manager for the Duke Advanced Degree Consulting
Club (DACC), and founder of Pratt Unfiltered: Building Connection Through
Conversation, an initiative that fosters meaningful dialogue and community among
graduate students.
Guided by her philosophy that ideas emerge in curious minds, innovation is engineered
in labs, but impact is created in communities, Ozioma is passionate about bringing
together students, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to accelerate
practical solutions for a just energy transition.
Andrew Jones
Andrew grew up in Durham and graduated from the PLTW program at Riverside before earning a Civil Engineering degree from Duke University. While at Duke, Andrew began working as an engineer for Kimley-Horn in 2011 focusing on stormwater and flood mitigation projects in North Carolina. Andrew worked on many local projects for the City of Durham including the Eno River and New Hope Creek Watershed Improvement plans. Andrew began working with Civil Consultants in 2020 and now focuses on private land development projects in the Durham and the surrounding communities. Outside of work, Andrew enjoys running and chasing three young kids around Durham’s parks and greenways.
Chris Rossi
As the owner and sole employee of Dusky Electronics, Chris Rossi designs and builds electronic equipment for musical instruments, including vacuum tube guitar amplifiers and analog effects pedals. Chris is especially interested in the intersection between art and engineering and sees both as different sides of the same creative drive that makes all of us human.
Adam Mckenzie
Adam graduated Riverside in 2010 and attended Georgia Tech, graduating with a degree in Biomedical Engineering in 2015. He has worked his entire career in product development, engineering across a range of products at Electrolux/Frigidaire, Masterack, and now at Graco Children’s Products where he develops and tests car seats. At Graco he has held multiple roles starting as Senior Engineer, then Principal, Lead, and now Manager.
Afternoon Speakers:
John Feller
John Feller graduated from Riverside in 2025 and is currently in his sophomore year at NC State University studying Mechanical Engineering. He has completed two study abroad experiences in Ecuador and South Korea, where he worked on engineering projects studying water quality and creating a prototype for a video game to teach students about the protocols of the Korean Disease Agency.
Chuck Pell
Chuck Pell is an inventor, engineer, entrepreneur, designer, TEDMED speaker, and TV Host of the Emmy Award-winning Xploration Earth2050. Chuck’s work weaves biomechanics, aerospace, robotics, art, and commerce. He co-founded Nekton (underwater robotics) and Physcient (surgical robotics), founded Maelstrom (fluid propulsion), and served as an advisor & investor to Planetary Resources (asteroid mining). Chuck also co-launched Duke University Zoology’s BioDesign Studio and created foundational technology to launch Parata Systems (pharmaceutical robotics). With dozens of patents, engineering, & biology publications to his credit, Chuck’s projects have ranged from biomimetic underwater robots to automated bloodless surgical tools, offering vivid examples of how biology, engineering, teamwork, & design interact to shape practical inventions that are now in widespread use. Chuck has a BFA from Western Michigan University and an MFA from Notre Dame.
Jennifer Kornu and Ozioma Ozigbo
Jennifer Kafui Kornu is an electrical engineer and a master’s student in Climate and
Sustainability Engineering at Duke University, specializing in energy systems. She has
worked on power plants and electrical infrastructure in Ghana and recently completed
an internship at SpaceX Super Intelligence (formerly xAI), supporting the electrical
systems that power large data centers.
Interested in all things energy, Jennifer is involved in campus initiatives through the
Pratt Energy and Sustainability Club and Duke Energy Week. She looks forward to
sharing her journey, answering students’ questions and helping them explore how
engineering connects to everyday life and the possibilities of a career in the field.
Ozioma Ozigbo is a master of engineering student in climate & sustainability
engineering at Duke University, with a background in mechanical and energy
engineering from the University of North Texas. After beginning her career in research
and development for power electronics, she shifted her focus toward advancing
affordable, reliable and sustainable energy systems that expand access and improve
quality of life.
She serves as co-chair of Duke Energy Week, president of the Pratt Energy &
Sustainability Club, engagement manager for the Duke Advanced Degree Consulting
Club (DACC), and founder of Pratt Unfiltered: Building Connection Through
Conversation, an initiative that fosters meaningful dialogue and community among
graduate students.
Guided by her philosophy that ideas emerge in curious minds, innovation is engineered
in labs, but impact is created in communities, Ozioma is passionate about bringing
together students, researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to accelerate
practical solutions for a just energy transition.
Big congratulations to our men’s cross country team who won the 2026 Tobacco Road Athletic Conference Championship for the third year in a row!
Shout-out to Ms. Ballon, Mr. Velez and all of our student organizers and performers who made 2026 Hispanic Heritage Cultural Night such a tremendous success!
Shout-out to the members of our men's and women's soccer team who helped support a community service project with the teachers and students of Club Boulevard Elementary.
Congratulations to our seniors and their families who were celebrated on Senior Night for Flag Football before the team defeated Jordan High School 25-6.
Pirate Athletics Media & members of the XC, Volleyball, Cheer, & Football teamsed visited Easley Elementary this morning. Our student athletes were amazing with the 1st graders. If you teach or coach any of these athletes, you should be very proud of them. (photo by Coach Strickland)
Mr. Cordova and the AVID 11/12 classes touring UNC Chapel Hill.
Shout-out to Ms. Smith and the CTE students who attended the AI bootcamp at Durham Tech this weekend.
Shout-out to Ms. Moore, our parent volunteers and band and orchestra students who attended Gershwin's "Rhapsody of Blue" at the NC Symphony.
💙 Supporting healthy scholars starts with informed families!
DPS parents and legal guardians: Please review our handout about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to help your family stay informed.
📄 View the diabetes handout: https://aptg.co/cYPG5r
Does your scholar need diabetes care during the school day? Visit our Managing Health Conditions & Forms webpage for information and forms to help your scholar receive the support they need:
🔗 https://www.dpsnc.net/page/managing-health-conditions-and-forms/
Together, we can help our scholars stay healthy and ready to learn! #WeAreDPS
DPS parents and legal guardians: Please review our handout about Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes to help your family stay informed.
📄 View the diabetes handout: https://aptg.co/cYPG5r
Does your scholar need diabetes care during the school day? Visit our Managing Health Conditions & Forms webpage for information and forms to help your scholar receive the support they need:
🔗 https://www.dpsnc.net/page/managing-health-conditions-and-forms/
Together, we can help our scholars stay healthy and ready to learn! #WeAreDPS
Shout-out to Ms. Jaffe, Mr. Holley, and all of the students that represented RHS at DPS' Stage Center theater event.
Congratulations to our women’s tennis team who defeated Cleveland High School in the second round of the state championships and will advance to the third round for the first time in school history.
Shout-out to our senior soccer players and their families who were celebrated on Senior Night before defeating Hillside 8-0.
