Duke, UNC Announce New Robertson Scholars
Thirty high school seniors this year have accepted invitations to join the Robertson Scholars Program, which awards leadership merit scholarships to both schools.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Thirty high school seniors have accepted invitations to join the Robertson Scholars Program this year, Duke University President Richard H. Brodhead and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chancellor Holden Thorp have announced.
The program awards leadership merit scholarships to UNC-Chapel Hill and Duke. Each year, the program aims to enroll half the scholars at Duke and half at UNC. The scholars take courses at both schools and spend a semester in residence at the other campus. The Robertson Scholarship covers tuition, room, board and fees at both universities.
Students were invited to the program based on demonstrating exceptional heart, mind and action and the potential to develop further in these three areas, said Tony Brown, president of the program.
“However, it is much more than a scholarship,” Brown said. “It is a leadership development program that offers year-round personal, academic and professional enrichment experiences locally, nationally and abroad. And it is a learning community defined by high expectations, deep human connections and a web of support and relationships for life.”
Hailing from 13 states and three foreign countries, 30 scholars will enroll at the two universities next fall, 15 at Duke and 15 at UNC. Two students will defer enrollment for a year, while two recipients from last year will join the new class.
“It takes a special student to take advantage of all the resources a university has to offer,” Thorp said. “What makes the Robertson Scholars Program unique is that the resources of two outstanding universities are available. And what makes our Robertson Scholars special is their enthusiasm about pursuing their education in innovative ways. I’m sure the class of 2013 will excel in this regard, and I can’t wait to greet them in the fall.”
The recipients were chosen from more than 24,000 admission applicants at UNC and more than 23,000 at Duke. After a selection process that included application reviews and phone interviews, committees at both universities invited 91 finalists to Durham and Chapel Hill for a conference and interviews March 28-March 31.
Other finalists included two successful candidates from New Zealand – Hunter Douglas of Wellington and Claire Sorrenson of North Shore – and one from Australia, Soroush Jamali Pour of New South Wales. Those scholars were selected through separate processes conducted in partnership with the New Zealand Vice Chancellor’s Committee and the University of New South Wales.
Julian and Josie Robertson of New York founded the Robertson program in June 2000 with a $24 million gift. The Robertsons reside in New Zealand for part of each year.
“One of the great aspects of the Robertson Scholars Program is that although we choose the very best students who apply to Duke and UNC, they all come from different walks of life, encompassing a wide range of backgrounds, passions, perspectives and talents,” Brodhead said. “This combination of excellence and individuality creates a program like no other in the country. We are thrilled with the Robertson Scholars Class of 2013 and look forward to welcoming them in the fall.”
Robertson Scholars come together for seminars taught by faculty of both universities, research projects, leadership development and service-learning programs. The program runs a free express bus between the two campuses that is open to the entire Duke and Carolina communities. It also offers collaboration grants to faculty and students at each university to support joint programs.
“I was inspired by the young people I met through our selection process,” said Brown. “They are bright, passionate and eager, and will make meaningful contributions to every community they touch.”
Scholars at Duke University:
Arizona
Alexis Mayumi Wallace, Phoenix, Pinnacle High School
Australia
Soroush Jamali Pour, New South Wales, Normanhurst Boys High School
Michael Peter Oliver, Queensland, The Mahindra United World College of India (deferring enrollment until next year)
Connecticut
Thomas Michael Atwood, Woodstock, Pomfret School
Christine Elizabeth Larson, Trumbull, Trumbull High School
Georgia
Kanya Manoj, Duluth, Woodward Academy (deferred last year, enrolling this fall)
Maryland
Jordan Patrick Hall, Sidwell Friends School
Massachusetts
Dylan William Flye, New Salem, Deerfield Academy
Victoria Alyssa Wilmarth, Andover, Phillips Academy Andover
Missouri
Jocelyn Lee Streid, St. Louis, Ladue Horton Watkins High School
New Zealand
Hunter Callum Douglas, Wellington, Wellington College
Claire Sorrenson, North Shore, Takapuna Grammar School
New York
Joyce Yu, Glendale, Hunter College High School
Ohio
Omar Munier Nazzal, Toledo, Maumee Valley Country Day School
Sweden
Jakob Carl Thomas Blomquvist, Hagersten, Enskilda Gymnasiet
Virginia
Ryan James Boone, Gainesville, Battlefield High School
Scholars at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:
Connecticut
Elizabeth Anne Lynch, Hartford, Conard High School
District of Columbia
Jacob Marcus Lerner, School Without Walls
Caitlin Elise Nettleton, Washington International School (deferred last year, enrolling this fall)
Florida
Ivanna Cristina Gonzalez, Miami, Coral Reef High School
Jagir Dushyant Patel, Boynton Beach, Atlantic Community High School
Georgia
Benjamin Carter Barge, Marietta, Walton High School
Jessica Taylor Broadus, Marietta, Alan C. Pope High School
Jared Andrew Ciervo, Acworth, Harrison High School
Jeremy Bennett Knight, Loganville, Grayson High School
North Carolina
Victoria D’Ereka Bennett, Garysburg, KIPP Pride High School
Travis James Crayton, Concord, Mt. Pleasant High School
Eli David Hornstein, Raleigh, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics (deferring enrollment until next year)
Antonio Marshant Jackson, Greensboro, Greensboro Day School
Yesenia Pedro Vicente, Morganton, Robert Logan Patton High School
Ohio
Joseph Lawrence Holthaus, Cincinnati, Walnut Hills High School
Texas
Diana Marie Bueno, Fort Worth, Lamar High School
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Robertson Program Web site: http://www.robertsonscholars.org/
