Beginning with the class of 2010, students who wish to graduate from a North Carolina public high school must complete a graduation project. The North Carolina Graduation Project includes four components: a research paper, a product, a portfolio and an oral presentation. In an effort to assist students who are interested in pursuing an environmental topic for their project, the Office of Environmental Education offers several resources:

For Students Seeking Mentors
Students looking for a mentor to help them refine their project idea and offer support through the project's completion should check out the following two resources:

Environmental Project Mentors by County

Environmental Project Mentors by Topic Area

For Mentors Seeking Students
If you are an individual interested in mentoring a student in your community on an environment-related topic, please fill out the Mentor Survey. The information you submit will be reviewed by OEE staff, and with your permission, posted on the appropriate Graduation Project Mentor sections above.

Mentors are vital to the success of student projects. Anyone from the community who is 21 years of age or older and is considered to be an expert in the field a student is researching for the project may serve as a graduation project mentor. Although the actual time commitment will vary by project and student needs, mentors should be committed to supporting students through the end stages of their project.

A graduation project mentor accepts the following responsibilities:
-Allocates time and makes arrangements to work with the student on the project.
-Provides suggestions and advice to the student on applicable aspects of the research paper, product, portfolio, and oral presentation.
-Provides accurate and honest verification of the student’s work.
-Serves as a support and resource to the student in all stages of the graduation project process.
-Signs and returns all required forms.

Blog for Projects in Earth and Environmental Sciences
The interactive NC Student Projects in the Earth and Environmental Sciences blog supports students and their teachers in creating, planning, implementing, and reporting the results of research and service projects, including high school graduation projects.