Student Spotlights – August 2026

The first notes of the new marching season are officially underway! Rookie Band Camp kicked off as the newest members of AHSMB began learning what it takes to perform at the highest level. From mastering marching fundamentals and timing to learning formations and building endurance in the summer heat, these talented student musicians are laying the foundation for an incredible season ahead. Every tick of the metronome brings the marching band one step closer to full band camp later this month, when the entire program comes together to prepare for another unforgettable year. This fall, the AHSMB will debut its 2026 halftime production, From Dawn ’til Dusk, which is a western-inspired journey that promises plenty of excitement!

For more than four decades, Auburn High School Basketball Camp has been a summertime tradition with the 41st Annual Auburn High School Basketball Camp tipped off with another enthusiastic group of future Tigers! Throughout the week, campers will sharpen their basketball fundamentals, compete in fun drills and games, and learn what it means to play the Tiger Way. More than just developing skills on the court, camp is about building confidence, sportsmanship, teamwork, and a love for the game. A special shout-out to Coach David Ogle, Head Coach Chris Brandt, the basketball coaching staff, and the varsity players for continuing a tradition that has inspired generations of young athletes!

Summer Girls Basketball Camp tipped off at Auburn High School, where young athletes are learning the game from Head Coach Courtney Pritchett, assistant coaches, and varsity players. Throughout the week, campers sharpen their skills while building confidence and friendships with a championship mindset. From first-time players to future varsity standouts, every drill is an opportunity to grow as a basketball player, teammate, and leader. At Auburn High School, success is built through hard work and commitment. This week, the next generation is doing more than learning the fundamentals as they’re beginning to build on the legacy of Auburn High Girls Basketball!

The 2026 Auburn High School Flag Football Youth Camp kicked off as coaches and varsity players welcomed the next generation of athletes to campus. Throughout the week, campers are learning the fundamentals of the game, developing their skills, and gaining useful insights. Under the leadership of Head Coach Alison Link, the Tigers are doing more than preparing for another championship run; they’re investing in the future. From teaching proper techniques to encouraging confidence and sportsmanship, the Varsity Tigers are serving as role models for developing athletes. As one of Alabama’s premier flag football programs, Auburn High continues to build a culture that goes beyond victories on the field. ACS is proud to see our student-athletes giving back and helping grow the game one camper at a time!

Summer school students got a special visit this week from Auburn City Schools’ School Resource Officers and their K-9 partners. Officer Michael Veasey from Auburn High School and his K-9 unit, Jet, along with Officer Justin Sanders from Auburn Junior High School and his K-9 unit, Underdog, visited students for an engaging demonstration of their dogs’ abilities. The officers shared how their dogs were bred and trained through Auburn University’s K-9 program for detection work and explained what it’s like to live and work alongside their partners 24 hours a day. Students were amazed as the officers hid a training package under one of four cones and watched Jet and Underdog use their incredible detection skills to locate it. After a job well done, both dogs earned their favorite reward, a ball to play with, along with plenty of pets and attention from excited students. Auburn City Schools is grateful for our collaborative partnership with the City of Auburn and the Auburn Public Safety Department. Together, we are proud to have dedicated School Resource Officers serving in every school and two K-9 units helping keep our campuses safe while building positive relationships with students each day. Thank you, Officers Veasey and Sanders, for making learning fun and for all you do to support and protect our school community!

Auburn High School was proud to host agricultural educators from across Alabama and the nation for a CASE (Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education) professional development training in partnership with ALSDE. Participants are engaging in hands-on, STEM-focused learning, including water-quality investigations such as stream-temperature testing, to strengthen agricultural science instruction and prepare the next generation of agricultural leaders. We’re honored to showcase Auburn City Schools’ commitment to innovation, workforce development, and excellence in Career & Technical Education!

Auburn High School Volleyball’s annual Youth Clinic is underway, and the gym is packed with energy and future Tiger talent. Under the leadership of new Head Coach Ashley Parnell, young athletes are learning the fundamentals of the game through skill-building drills, competitive games, and hands-on instruction from our Varsity Volleyball players. From serving and passing to teamwork and communication, campers are developing their volleyball skills while building confidence, making friends, and having fun along the way. Coach Parnell and the varsity team are helping inspire the next generation of Tiger volleyball players by sharing their knowledge and love for the game. It’s an incredible week of learning and growth. The future of Auburn Volleyball is bright, and we’re excited to see these young athletes continue to grow both on and off the court.

The 2026 Auburn D.A.R.E. Camp wrapped up this summer, giving Auburn City Schools’ rising sixth graders an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect before beginning their next chapter at J.F. Drake Middle School. Hosted by the City of Auburn Public Safety Department at Pick Elementary School, D.A.R.E. Camp is the culmination of a year-long program that equips students with character-building skills, promotes positive decision-making, reinforces anti-bullying messages, and encourages teamwork and leadership. From tackling team-building challenges to hearing from inspiring guest speakers, every activity was designed to strengthen confidence, communication, and character. Campers also enjoyed exciting demonstrations from the Auburn Police SWAT Team and K-9 Unit, plus a special visit from an Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) helicopter. Experiences like these reinforce the important role public safety professionals play in our community. ACS is grateful for our outstanding partnership with Auburn Public Safety – Police & Fire and the many volunteers who invest their time to build positive relationships with students

Our stop-motion campers spent four exciting days designing, building, coding, and bringing their stories to life. From creating one-of-a-kind LEGO animations to exploring engineering, robotics, and coding with LEGO Boost, campers put their creativity and problem-solving skills to work every day. We loved watching their ideas come to life, one frame at a time!

Tiny Tales & Art Trails was filled with imagination, creativity, and fun. Over three wonderful days, our campers brought stories to life through books, art projects, and hands-on activities inspired by Not Norman, Beautiful Oops!, and Who Sang the First Song?. We loved watching them create, explore, and let their imaginations shine.

Summer learning came to life today as students spent time with nationally recognized storyteller Carol Cain! Known for engaging audiences with her animated tales of humor, Carol has spent decades inspiring children through her stories. A former language arts and theatre educator, she discovered storytelling’s impact in the classroom and has since shared her talents at events across the country. Cain brought stories to life, encouraging imagination, creativity, and an enduring love of reading. These experiences are a great reminder that learning doesn’t stop when the school year ends. Thank you, Carol Cain, for sharing your talent with our students and making today a truly memorable part of their summer learning journey. Your visit helped create a joyful experience they will carry with them!

It was a great week of learning, connection, and leadership for Opelika City Schools. Our administrators joined school leaders from across the state at the CLAS Convention as they continue preparing for another great school year. We are proud of this group and grateful for the way they lead, serve, and support our students and schools each day.

The Opelika High School Philanthropy 101 program, sponsored by the Samford-Cannon Foundation, held its presentation ceremony on June 18, 2026 at the Nonprofit Center of East Alabama. This year, a total of $12,600 was presented to nine local nonprofit groups including Greater Peace Child Development Center, Boxcar, Lee County Literacy Coalition, Boys & Girls Clubs of East Alabama, Storybook Farm, Village Friends, O Grows, Miracle League, and Big House Foundation. Eighteen OHS students participated in the three-week program to learn more about the importance of philanthropy and service. Opelika City Schools is grateful to Ms. Lucinda Cannon, Race and Heather Cannon, and the Samford-Cannon Foundation for sponsoring this program and to Samantha Shipman and Samuel Cleveland from OHS for serving as advisors.

Our Mission to Mars campers took on STEM challenges inspired by NASA’s Mars 2020 Mission, designing tools, building robots, and coding solutions to complete their extraterrestrial objectives. From collecting rock samples to clearing landing zones, campers used creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving skills to tackle challenges just like real engineers and astronauts.

LSA Bakes Camp was a sweet success again this summer! The campers mixed, measured, and mastered several recipes throughout the week including ice cream cone cupcakes, homemade pop tarts, a chocolate poke cake and many more goodies! All LSA bakers went home with a personal camp cookbook, so they could replicate the recipes with their families over the summer! We look forward to mixing and making more goodies in the fall with the LSA Bakes Club!

Happy Fourth of July from Opelika City Schools! Before summer break, our schools joined in celebrating America’s 250th birthday with patriotic lessons, student activities, red, white, and blue spirit, and meaningful opportunities to reflect on civic pride and American history. As our nation celebrates Independence Day, see a few moments from our schools as we recognize this historic milestone!

Our Art Camp artists spent the week turning blank canvases into works of imagination. From learning new skills to creating unique masterpieces, every day was filled with creativity and fun!

Our campers learned new skills and wowed their families with a special performance. Thank you to the Auburn University Majorettes for making it such a memorable experience!

The IMAGINARIUM STEM Camp was a tremendous success! Throughout the week, students explored the exciting worlds of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math through hands-on activities, experiments, and challenges!

Rising K4 students had a blast at Wee Warrior Camp! Students participated in story time, arts and crafts, pre-writing skills, math games and lots of fun. They also enjoyed meeting new friends and learning all about LSA. We can’t wait to see this group of Warriors again in the fall.

Yeehaw! What a fantastic week at TCS’s very first Summer Drama Camp, Our campers had an absolute blast learning songs, choreography, and bringing The Good, the Bad & the Silly to life on stage! A huge thank you to Mrs. Boone and our amazing Upper School student helpers for making this week so special. The Wild West came alive, the audience loved every minute, and our campers stole the show. We can’t wait for next summer!

What a wonderful week at “All God’s Critters Got a Place in the Choir” Summer Camp! We sang, learned Bible stories, created crafts, played games, and celebrated how God made each of us unique and special. Most of all, we had lots of fun while growing in faith and friendship. Thank you to all our campers and families for making this week so memorable!

Ahoy, mateys! Our 2nd grade readers had a fantastic time during our High Seas Reading Adventure reading camp. Students enjoyed reading Pirates Past Noon while building their comprehension and vocabulary skills. They also showed their creativity through pirate-themed art projects and put their problem-solving skills to work with engaging STEM activities. It was a treasure-filled week of learning, fun, and adventure on the high seas.