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Tigerfest 2026 Sessions

Mandatory Keynote Session: Preparing the next chapter as a leader.

Speaker: Rick Grandinetti
Freshmen: 2nd, Sophomores: 1st, Juniors: 1st, Seniors: 2nd

You don't need a title to be a leader! Mr. Grandinetti will provide a high energy, motivational keynote session, inspiring students to become better leaders.


Greatest SuperBowl Commercials

Speaker: David Tanner
Available periods: 3, 4

Why do companies invest millions in SuperBowl Ads? Lets watch some of the greatest SuperBowl commercials of all time and discuss what you think.

The Evolution of Self Esteem with Mr. LJ

Speaker: Lloyd “LJ” Burgess
Available periods: 1, 2

A conversation about raising Self Esteem conveyed through definitions, examples, and tips. Also, a number of personal stories as a college athlete and overseas basketball player, and the many lessons it taught about the topic.

Wreck-It and Fix-It Mosaics

Speaker: Tiffany Titus
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Come create your own mosaic by smashing some plates, then creating something new from the shards. Flowerpots will be provided, but if you wish to mosaic another small item (picture frame, mirror, etc), feel free to bring something of your own.

Come learn more about the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

Speaker: Cornelius Williams
Available periods: 1, 2

Learn about what is public health and the programs offered at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Overview of UNC Admissions

Speaker: Hayes Boylston
Available periods: 1

Come learn a bit more about UNC Chapel Hill and the admissions process. We will also leave plenty of time for your questions.

Co-Building Peace: A Visioning Workshop

Speaker: Sehdia Mansaray
Available periods: 1, 2

Students will work in pairs to create vision boards based on Peace Corps goals to promote world peace and friendship. We will close the session with a discussion of the process of co-creating peace. The session will be guided by a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who will also share a brief overview about Peace Corps service.

Bagel Making with Brandwein's Bagels!

Speaker: Alex Brandwein
Available periods: 3

Make Your Own Bagel From Scratch with Brandwein's! Free Samples & Swag Too!

Tarot for Self Inquiry

Speaker: Rachel Holderied
Available periods: 1, 2

Join us for an overview of tarot decks and how the cards can be used for self inquiry. You will have the opportunity to do a quick tarot reading for yourself on a topic of your choice and learn about interpreting the meaning even without prior experience. We will not be using the cards for divination or fortune telling in this session.

"Raptors in a Changing World - Biology, Natural History, & Conservation"

Speaker: Cassandra Bridges
Available periods: 1, 2

Raptor Insights is a local nonprofit that uses trained birds of prey to educate the public about the amazing raptors we share the world with. During this one-hour session, students will have the opportunity to learn about hawks, falcons, and owls with the help of our animal ambassadors, including Waldorf the Red-Shouldered Hawk and Lizzy the Peregrine Falcon. Students will leave the program with a better understanding of what makes these birds unique and what challenges they face today.

The Fascinating Lives of Honeybees

Speaker: Justin Maness
Available periods: 1

The Fascinating Lives of Honeybees takes students inside the complex world of the hive, revealing how honeybees communicate, collaborate, and sustain entire ecosystems. Through real-world stories from the field, we explore pollination, environmental impact, and the vital role bees play in our food systems. Students leave with a deeper understanding of science in action and how small creatures make a massive difference.

Small Business Ownership

Speaker: Charlie Farris
Available periods: 3

A discussion on small business ownership. Should you franchise, buy an existing business, or start something from scratch? Led by Charlie Farris, Owner/Operator of Jersey Mike's Subs and AL's Burger Shacks in Chapel Hill.

Swing Dance!

Speaker: Jocelyn Neal
Available periods: 2, 3

Come learn some fun swing dance moves! We'll learn some swing dance and partner dance patterns. All are welcome -- you don't need any experience, and you don't need to bring a dance partner.

Get to know the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health

Speaker: Cornelius Williams
Available periods: 1, 2

Learn about the program offerings at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Frisbee

Speaker: Susan Crammer
Available periods: 1

Play Frisbee!

The work of an Immigration Attorney - Bringing the American Dream to Life

Speaker: Ethan O. Beattie, Esq.
Available periods: 2, 3

Discussion on the daily ups and downs of navigating US immigration laws from a legal advocate perspective.

Preparing the next chapter as a leader.

Speaker: Rick Grandinetti
Available periods: 1, 2

You don't need a title to be a leader! Mr. Grandinetti will provide a high energy, motivational keynote session, inspiring students to become better leaders.

Badminton

Speaker: Susan Crammer
Available periods: 4

Play Badminton

Tote bag painting

Speaker: Keely Grandis
Available periods: 3, 4

Get creative and piant a tote bag!

Cardio Kickboxing

Speaker: Gina Lacava
Available periods: 1

Unleash your inner warrior with this fun exercise class which combines punches, kicks and cardio moves.

Tiger Twist - A Challah Experience

Speaker: Abby Zarkin
Available periods: 4

Join us for "Tiger Twist: A Challah Experience" — a fun, hands-on event in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month! Learn the history and cultural significance of challah, the traditional braided bread enjoyed for generations. Then roll up your sleeves and braid your own loaf using pre-made dough to take home and bake. No experience needed — just bring your curiosity and Tiger pride! Open to the first 25 students who sign up. Samples will be provided!

Tiger Trivia

Speaker: Tina CoyneSmith
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Trivia Question: what is a group of Tigers called? Join me for Tiger Trivia, a fast paced laugh filled showdown where teams battle it out while wondering “why do we even know that?” Bring your friends, bring your brain, and get ready for bragging rights, surprise prizes, and the most fun you can have while pretending it’s educational. Though with me in charge, you know it will be! Bonus question: who said, “What mighty contests rise from trivial things!” See you there.

Fighting Fascism With Comedy: The Case For Humor

Speaker: Anjali Valentine
Available periods: 2, 3, 4

Fascists/authoritarians thrive off of keeping us pacified and even lost at what to do to cope and fight back. Humor is a powerful tool to mobilize/organize to help make a social movement accessible and relatable to others. Join this workshop to learn how to have comedy in your arsenal as we resist everything happening right now!

Chapel Hill Police Dept: Is Policing a Career for You?

Speaker: Meg McGurk
Available periods: 2

Students will get an inside look at how the police department serves the community beyond what’s often seen on TV or social media. Offices and professional staff will share what a typical day looks like, the wide range of roles within the department, and we work together to keep the community safe. Students will also learn about career paths, training, and ways to get involved or learn more in the future.

Delta Air Lines Pilot. My journey from Student Pilot to Boeing 737 Captain.

Speaker: Alan Haydon
Available periods: 3, 4

I'll describe the steps I took to become a pilot for Delta Air Lines and will provide a glimpse into my day to day life as a Delta Air Lines Captain.

Best Ways to Travel and Live Abroad Long Term

Speaker: Carolyn Hess
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Want to travel the world without having to be “rich” or an “influencer”? Come discover unexpected travel hacks, crazy adventure stories, and the behind-the-scenes truths about turning international dreams into real, achievable plans.

Press Pause: Meditation for Stress and Focus

Speaker: Rev. WonGong So
Available periods: 1, 2

High school can be overwhelming—assignments, exams, activities, and constant pressure. Join “Press Pause: Meditation for Stress and Focus” to learn simple, practical techniques to calm your mind, reduce stress, and improve concentration. Take a break, reset, and build skills that help you feel more balanced and confident every day.

Introduction to Specialty Coffee

Speaker: Badi Bradley
Available periods: 1, 2

Coffee is one of the most traded commodities in the world. Specialty Coffee is the high end of the market. Think peaches (specialty) not cardboard (commercial). Why do we love coffee? What are the threats to our coffee supply? If this sounds interesting to you, come and learn more.

Magician

Speaker: Michael Bloemeke
Available periods: 3

Michael Bloemeke is a multi award-winning entertainer, delivering experiences that you CAN’T get anywhere else!

Essay Workshop with UNC Admissions

Speaker: Hayes Boylston
Available periods: 2

Wanting to get a head start thinking about your college application essays? A representative from UNC Admissions will be here to lead an interactive session about essays and how they fit into the overall application. Please come ready to participate and with your questions.

Keychains and Bag Charms

Speaker: Cayce Clark
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Choose from a selection of beads, tassels, ribbon and leather pendants to create your own keychain or bag charm.

Tigers Got Talent

Speaker: Student Government
Available periods: 4

Hello Tigers and welcome to Tigers Got Talent!!! The show that goes to extremes to bring you the freshest new acts around. All they have to do is impress our brand new judging panel. Get past buzzers and wow our live audience. The show is open to any performer of any age, from any background, with any talent - all they need is a skill and star quality which they think will impress the judges, so lets get started and see if these Tigers, have any talent!

A Trace of Kindness Rock Painting

Speaker: Angela Peterson
Available periods: 1, 2, 3

If you're into making someone's day by painting happy little rocks, please come paint with us!

Kickball

Speaker: Tricia Staats
Available periods: 3, 4

Come play kickball

A Career in Journalism

Speaker: Tim Crothers
Available periods: 2

I'll share some stories and advice about how I become a senior writer at Sports Illustated and an author. I'd also plan to leave as much time as possible for Q&A.

Learn how to leverage a Career Center for your benefit

Speaker: Jennifer Walker
Available periods: 4

Career centers are offices designed to help students, alumni, or job seekers with career planning, training options, and employment searches. Services include resume building, interview prep, work-based learning connections such as internships/apprenticeships/job shadowing, career fairs, and assistance with job placement. Come learn about CHHS's very own Career Center resouces, and how you can utilize career centers to your advantage for life!

Geoguessr

Speaker: Jacob Manning
Available periods: 1, 2, 3

We'll play Geoguessr all day in room A276. Great for beginners or pros.

Best Anime Opening Themes

Speaker: Aaron Wark
Available periods: 1

Do you like anime? Do you like music? Do you like when these two things collide together in the interest of getting people hyped for an episode? If so, come find out about the best anime opening theme songs from a highly subjective historical perspective. We'll watch some of the best and weigh in on faves, it'll be fun!

Tibetan Buddhism

Speaker: David Need
Available periods: 1, 2

Introduction to Buddhism and Tibetan Buddhist Culture

Velvet Coloring

Speaker: McKenna Dodson
Available periods: 1, 2, 4

Color on velvet sheets to create a fun, textured design you can take home.

Memorial Garden Refresh

Speaker: Laura Malinchock
Available periods: 1, 2

Help us maintain the Memorial Garden that honors the students and staff members who have passed away. The garden will need weeding, mulching, planting new plants and watering.

Taichi and Chinese Thought

Speaker: David Need
Available periods: 1, 2

Intro to basic Taichi Form

Trail Hike

Speaker: William Schrader
Available periods: 1

Explore Bolin Forest, following trails through the woods and along the creek.

Brain Power!

Speaker: Sara Faccidomo
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Neuroscientists will give you the opportunity to 1) see and touch a human brain and 2) use your brain to control the movement of another person's hand!

EMS - Teaching Life Saving Skills!

Speaker: Kim Woodward
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Orange County EMS will provide hands only CPR training, stop the bleed, and training on naloxone for suspected opioid overdose. We will provide information on how to become an EMT or Paramedic.

So You Want to Publish a Book

Speaker: Brian Wasson
Available periods: 1

The book publishing process and industry

Tigerfeud

Speaker: Thomas Soth
Available periods: 2, 3

A spirited competition that brings students together for teamwork, excitement, and plenty of laughs in a school-themed Family Feud experience.

Futbol

Speaker: Davis Boyle
Available periods: 1, 2, 3

Students will be able to get some exercise playing the beautiful game.

Author visit with debate and TV show reenactment - LAST CHANCE LIVE!

Speaker: Helena Haywoode Henry
Available periods: 3

Join Helena Haywoode Henry, the author of Last Chance LIVE! - a book about teens on death row who compete on a reality TV show, in which America votes for one contestant to win freedom/forgiveness and executes the rest. Helena will offer a lively debate about the societal questions raised by the book, and the opportunity to participate in a reenactment of the TV show. No need to read the book before participating! Please bring your copy of LAST CHANCE LIVE! (available at Barnes & Noble and wherever books are sold) so Helena can sign and personalize your book!

What It’s Really Like To Work in Fashion, Presented by Fashion Editor Leah Faye Cooper

Speaker: Leah Faye Cooper
Available periods: 3, 4

Leah Faye Cooper has worked at Vogue magazine, attended fashion weeks in New York and Paris, and interviewed everyone from A$AP Rocky and Simone Biles to Angel Reese and Lewis Hamilton. In this session, the CHHS alum will discuss what it's really like to pursue a career in the fashion industry.

Philosophy Discussion

Speaker: William Schrader
Available periods: 2

Discuss philosophical topics (morality, law, personhood, art, reality, happiness, etc.), sharing ideas and asking questions.

Yoga

Speaker: Magistra Lido
Available periods: 2, 4

Yoga for everyone - wear clothing comfortable to move in and bring your own yoga mat if you like.

Sudoku

Speaker: Ally Scercy
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Do you want to boost your brainpower and sharpen your problem-solving skills in a fun, challenging way? Come learn how to solve Sudoku puzzles!

Come Try Color Guard!

Speaker: Noah Marcus
Available periods: 3, 4

Color Guard is the section of our Tiger Marching Band where performers get to dance and toss equipment such as flags, rifles, and sabres. If you’re interested in color guard, or just curious as to what it is we do, come learn some basic tosses with us! No prior experience is needed.

Using Data to Change the Game: Lessons from NFL Injury Reduction

Speaker: Tricia Roby
Available periods: 1

Using real examples from the NFL, this talk explores how data can be used to make sports safer for athletes. It highlights how science, technology, and teamwork come together to reduce injuries and shows students how data skills can have a real‑world impact in sports and health.

Yarn Magic

Speaker: Amy Reeves
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Learn to knit for self-care and relaxation. If you already knit or crochet, bring your yarn and join the crafting circle.

Pasta Making

Speaker: Annalisa Volpe
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Learn how to make homemade pasta paired with a delicious Italian sauce!

Bloom Yoga - All Levels Flow

Speaker: Gina Nelson
Available periods: 3

Come join Bloom Yoga Co. for an invigorating mini flow!

"Tips and Tricks for Better Pics"

Speaker: Randy Young
Available periods: 3, 4

It's a snap: from selfies to grand landscapes, the keys to better photography for both novice and lies right in your camera OR iPhone. This class provides some "do's and don't's" for better photos and shortcuts for eye-catching effects.

FIFA

Speaker: Kevin Schoden
Available periods: 1, 3

Join us at TigerFest for a fun, competitive gaming session playing FIFA on both PS4 and PS5. All experience levels are welcome.

Wiffle Ball

Speaker: Tim Coynesmith
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Come one, come all! No experience needed, enthusiasm required. Be prepared to have fun, laugh, hit a ball and run the bases.

Stress Management

Speaker: Jan Dillard and Elissa Nickolopoulos
Available periods: 1, 2

Hands on and experiential practice with a variety of stress management techniques and coping strategies. Facilitators are licensed clinical social workers who can also answer questions about education and career options related to social work.

Zumba

Speaker: Grisel Diaz
Available periods: 2

Get ready to shake, shimmy, and sweat like nobody’s watching in a Zumba class—it’s a total dance party explosion where Latin beats, salsa sways, and reggaeton rhythms turn your workout into the ultimate feel-good fiesta!

Mural making

Speaker: Loren Pease
Available periods: 4

Interested in how to design and paint a mural? Learn the basic design process and execution of mural making!

Tie-Dye

Speaker: Mary Boyd
Available periods: 1, 2, 3, 4

Looking to brighten up your spring wardrobe? Come tie-dye with me! White shirts are provided but feel free to bring any clothes you'd like to spruce up!

Fencing Masterclass!

Speaker: Blake Norris
Available periods: 1, 3

Come try fencing! Hosted by the CHHS Fencing Team, our members will teach you fencing footwork and techniques for anyone to try! Equipment is provided.

Playful pottery - getting your hands into clay.

Speaker: Cely Chicurel
Available periods: 3, 4

We will make a group piece together and also have an opportunity to make a small folded pot.