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Your passport to global affairs

What's Up at NCWA? 

Member Survey: High Satisfaction, Suggestions Made for Improvements

NCWA's recent member survey showed it is healthy and stable two years after the end of the pandemic. Member satisfaction remained very high, although improvements can be made in programs and in staying relevant in rapidly changing times. The Board of Directors began to use this information in plans for this season and beyond.

Attendance at lectures continued to be high, as it was two years ago when the previous survey was done. Live-streaming of lectures was popular. Ratings for the quality of lectures were 88% and quality of topics 87%, compared to an overall 88% two years ago. The lecture program was considered highly timely and relevant. Members found the lecture venue to be convenient and comfortable.

Great Decisions participants thought the material in the briefing books and supplemental reading supplied by NCWA was better, but there was need for more improvement. 

The program for bringing guests to lectures and Great Decisions meetings was used by 31% of the respondents last season and 92% were willing to bring guests this season. More members preferred using the updated website than the call center because of wait times to reach the call center, although many said they like to use both. 28% of respondents were highly likely to donate some amount to NCWA student programs, such as summer scholarships, Model UN or Academic WorldQuest. To read members' written comments, click here.

NCWA Awards 12 Scholarships
To Students For Summer Study 

The Naples Council on World Affairs last season awarded 12 summer scholarships totaling $70,000 to high-achieving high school juniors from Collier and Lee Counties. The 2025 scholarship awards marked the 25th year of NCWA’s partnership with SWFL schools. Students who will participate in the scholarship program during the summer of 2026 will be selected soon.

In keeping with NCWA’s mission, the scholarships focused on international relations education. The programs took place in July at some of the most prominent universities in the world, both in the United States and abroad.

  • North America: Students will attend academies on international affairs, national security, and other topics at Georgetown, American, Tufts, and Harvard universities. 
  • International: Students broaden their experience and understanding of global issues, culture, language, and politics through a homestay, visiting historical sites with local experts, and formal language instruction. Several students were selected for the Experiment in International Living in Germany, Japan and Costa Rica. Another was chosen to participate at Oxford University.

The 2025 NCWA scholarship winners were:

  • Mason Lyba, Aubrey Rogers High School, EIL Japan: Language and Culture.
  • Victoria Busch, Fort Myers High School, EIL Germany.
  • Clayton Grass, Gulf Coast High School and student at FGCU, EIL Germany.
  • Siri Kolli, Aubrey Rogers High School, EIL Costa Rica.
  • Catherine Saadeh, Gulf Coast High School, Oxford Academia International Relations and Diplomacy.
  • Cailyn Andrews, Golden Gate High School and dually enrolled in both Florida State College and FGCU, Harvard C-Change Youth Summit on Climate, Equity and Health.
  • Alexa Parsons, Gulf Coast High School, Jinny & John Johnson Scholarship to Tufts University program in international relations.
  • Ilormise Sirenord, Lorenzo Walker High School, completing dual degree at Florida Southwestern State College, American University School of International Service.
  • Vibhav "V.J." Nimmagadda, Gulf Coast High School, Georgetown University, International Relations.
  • Sebastian Canizares, Fort Myers High School, Georgetown University, International Relations.
  • Arya Agarwal, Bishop Verot High School, Georgetown University, Nat. Security.
  • Arya Rajaran, Gulf Coast High School, Georgetown University, National Security.

Members in Survey Offered Suggestions
And Thanks to NCWA Leaders

Lectures: 

  • Topics: The addition of broader topics in the international arena (global education and health, supply chains, impact of cryptocurrency on financial markets, etc.) was suggested. 
  • Speakers: Lecturers were regarded as generally excellent, but a mixture of experts from various perspectives (fewer think tanks, more from the field, government, foreign countries) and from varied areas (Latin America, Africa) would be welcome. Also, members suggested fewer repeat appearances by speakers.
  • Some asked for a wider diversity of perspectives, requested a more "balanced political/economic view" and suggested presentation of two points of view on a single topic. 
  • Members emphasized the need to keep introductions of speakers short and to cut off “speeches” and irrelevant questions during the question-and-answer period. 
  • Some members expressed problems hearing at lectures. The venue provides hearing assistance which will be more prominently promoted for members with hearing difficulties.

Great Decisions: Briefing books continue to challenge our members. Supplemental materials could be shorter and more clearly written. 

General:

  • Members aren't given enough information about where and how to volunteer.
  • They want social interaction and opportunities to discuss with others what they are learning.
  • Some suggested using dues to support more member activities and that all scholarships should be funded by donors. 

Membership and Marketing:

  • Diversify the age of membership, leadership and audience.
  • Develop use of social media.
  • Reach out to the community.

NCWA leadership: Keep up the good work!

NCWA leaders are appreciated. But make sure NCWA is current and relevant to the times. 

Oakridge Middle School Team Wins 2026
Middle School Academic WorldQuest Championship

A team of seventh graders from Oakridge Middle School claimed first place at the 2026 Middle School Academic WorldQuest (AWQ) competition, outperforming 27 other teams and 108 students from seven Collier County middle schools in a fast-paced contest of global knowledge.

Hosted by the Naples Council on World Affairs (NCWA) on February 28 at the Community School of Naples gymnasium, the annual competition drew 28 teams and more than 200 parents, teachers, supporters, and volunteers for a spirited morning of academic challenge and community celebration.

The championship team from Oakridge Middle School included Santiago Grana, John “JT” Haney, Jordan Rodriguez, and Joseph “Nolen” Walter.

To earn the title, the students met weekly at school to review practice materials and studied independently, mastering topics in national and international affairs provided by NCWA. Their coaches are Taylor Arnold and Andrea Polanco. Ms. Polanco was recently named Collier County Teacher of the Year for 2025.

“The students work incredibly hard. AWQ gives them a goal to work toward,” said Coach Arnold.

Academic WorldQuest serves as a dynamic complement to the social studies curriculum across Collier County schools.

“It’s a learning experience they can’t get any other place,” said Mikie Stroh, Collier County Schools Social Studies Coordinator. “It’s an amazing opportunity for students to demonstrate what they are learning about the world.”

Second place honors went to Pine Ridge Middle School’s team of Julian Connor Bartruff, Christian Castano, Bradley Fabian, and Samone Sharma. Third place was awarded to another Oakridge Middle School team comprised of Trivarn Bheemanapalli, Clara Cushman, Gavin Harhen, and Elizabeth Wilson.

Participating Collier County middle schools included Community School of Naples, Oakridge Middle School, Marco Island Charter School, Seacrest Country Day School, North Naples Middle School, and Pine Ridge Middle School.

“We are proud of our middle school AWQ participants and hope they continue their involvement through high school,” said Dr. Michael Finkel, Director of Academic WorldQuest for middle and high school and board member of the Naples Council on World Affairs.

For more than a decade, NCWA has hosted Academic WorldQuest competitions for middle and high school students in Southwest Florida. Nationwide, more than 40 local World Affairs Councils host AWQ competitions each year, engaging more than 3,000 students from diverse geographic and economic backgrounds and inspiring a culture of global awareness and civic engagement.

2026 Southwest Florida Middle School AWQ Categories were World Geography, Forms of Government, Current Events, 250th Anniversary of the United States, European Union and NATO, Australia, Flags of the World, World Leaders, Women’s Rights and Indigenous Peoples.

A Deep Dive into Critical Foreign Policy and Diplomacy Issues

The Naples Council on World Affairs (NCWA) is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our mission is to educate, inspire and engage our community in international affairs and global issues. 

Member benefits: Lectures by foreign affairs experts; small nonpartisan Great Decisions discussion groups; rich student programs, including Model UN, Academic WorldQuest competitions for middle school and high school students; scholarships for North American and overseas study; support for teachers, schools and students' careers in international affairs; book club, and opportunities for members to get involved in meaningful programs!


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This informative and nonpartisan daily emailed newsletter on international events is a quick way to stay current and enhance your understanding of our lectures and Great Decisions discussions. It is a free benefit of NCWA membership! Click here to subscribe.


Travel with WACA Members

NCWA members enjoy the companionship of like-minded explorers when they explore the world with the World Affairs of America (WACA) travel program. Administered by the Philadelphia Council, tours led by Council members go to a wide variety of destinations. For more information, go to www.wacphila.org.

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