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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. 



Middle School Academic WorldQuest
Builds Interest in International Affairs

For the second year in a row, Community School of Naples’ top Academic WorldQuest team won NCWA's AWQ Middle School competition.

The event at the Community School’s gymnasium drew 97 competitors from 25 teams and four Naples middle schools. More than 100 parents, supporters and volunteers took part. 

The winning team included eighth graders John Fontana, captain; and Justin Cantor, Kayden Robinson and Steven Fontana. The Fontana brothers are twins. 

For more than a decade, NCWA has hosted Academic WorldQuest competitions for middle schools and high schools in Southwest Florida. For more information on the 2025 competition, click here.

Preparations are underway for the 2026 AWQ middle school competition on February 28. The High School AWQ competition will be on March 21.

Community School of Naples won the Middle School Academic
WorldQuest competition sponsored by NCWA. At left is Mark Walchak,
NCWA's school programs chair, second from right is Mark Schwab,
NCWA president, and at far right is Scott Miles, team coach. Team
members are John Fontana, Justin Cantor, Kayden Robinson and
Steven Fontana.

Some of the Many Benefits of Membership in NCWA:


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!


Sign Up for GlobalPost (formerly DailyChatter)

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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