NEWS

Note: Included below is a list of recipients, biographical information and photo URLS.

Duke, UNC, choose 39 top students for third Robertson Scholars class

Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill have chosen 39 top high school seniors as winners of Robertson Scholarships, merit awards that allow recipients to attend college at both schools.

UNC Chancellor James Moeser and Duke President Nannerl O. Keohane today (April 16) announced this year’s winners of the four-year scholarships. Duke offered the scholarship to 16 students; Carolina to 21.

Two additional winners -- Boris Nikolic of Greensboro and Christopher Glazner of Chapel Hill -- were offered the scholarship by both schools and find themselves in the enviable position of choosing whether to become Robertson Scholars at Carolina or Duke.

The winners, invited to enroll as freshmen next fall, come from as far away as Vietnam and as close as the Triangle. They have until May 1 to accept the scholarship. Those chosen at Duke would enroll and graduate at Duke; those chosen by Carolina would enroll and graduate in Chapel Hill. Along the way, all would study on both campuses and participate in numerous joint programs.

Selection criteria included intellectual curiosity, academic merit, commitment to service and adventurousness of spirit, said Eric Mlyn, program director.

The winners will comprise the third class of the Robertson Scholars Program, funded by a $24 million endowment gift from Julian and Josie Robertson of New York City in June 2000. The program provides full tuition, room and living stipends for scholars chosen at UNC or full tuition at Duke. All scholars receive summer community-building and enrichment opportunities in the United States and abroad, support for research and related travel, and laptop computers.

"As we prepare to welcome our third wave of Robertson Scholars, this unique program is bringing exciting changes to both our campus cultures," Keohane said. "Residential exchanges, the physical presence and intellectual interaction of the students on each other's turf, and the high-speed service learning of their summer internships have touched not just individual students but the wider community.

"With activities and identities on each campus, these young scholars -- many of them leaders outside as well as within the classroom -- exemplify the value of collaboration in shaping the future of education."

Moeser agreed, noting that this spring, for the first time in the program’s short history, the first class of Robertsons are living on each other’s campuses, as is required in the second semester of their sophomore years.

"Robertson Scholars have excelled as ambassadors for collaboration," he said. "Right now, through their participation in the unprecedented campus switch, UNC-Chapel Hill Robertson Scholars are living and learning on Duke’s campus, and Duke Robertson Scholars are likewise immersing themselves in the academic and residential life of Carolina. This courage, curiosity and leadership that our Robertson Scholars have demonstrated are the characteristics that are clearly exemplified by our newest class of Robertson Scholars."

Collaboration by the two universities has been greatly enhanced by the Robertson Scholars Program, Mlyn said. The scholars come together for study-abroad opportunities, internships, special seminars taught by faculty of both universities, research projects and service-learning programs. The program runs a free express bus between Duke and UNC and offers collaboration grants to faculty and students at each university to support joint programs.

Students do not apply directly for Robertson Scholarships. Admissions offices on each campus choose candidates from within each applicant pool -- nearly 18,000 applications at Carolina and almost 17,000 at Duke.

This year, for the first time, applicants could complete forms to express interest in the scholarships and provide more information about their leadership and service involvement.

"The program seeks academically talented high school students who have dared to cross boundaries at local, national or international levels and, through their commitment to service, have made a difference in the world," Mlyn said.

Each admissions office chose 120 semi-finalists. From those, selection committees chose 40 finalists at each campus. On March 22-24, finalists interviewed with committees, composed of faculty and staff members and community representatives, at each site.

This summer, the first two classes of Robertson Scholars will embark on program-sponsored community service experiences: 28 sophomores in placements throughout the world and 32 in the southeastern United States. For more information, visit www.robertsonscholars.org.

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Note: Following is a list of winners, their high schools, and parents’ names, which campus they would attend and URLs to download photographs of recipients with photos available. Editors needing other assistance with photos may contact UNC Photographer Dan Sears, (919) 962-8592, dan_sears@unc.edu, or Duke University Photography at (919) 684-4391. Students listed in more than one place are noted with asterisks.

Alexander Rodric Pearson from Shelby High School, son of Judy and Lawrence Pearson of Shelby (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/pearson_alexander.jpg

Durham

Vanessa Ruth Barnett-Loro from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, daughter of Linda Ruth Barnett and Albert Dominic Loro of Durham (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Vanessa%20Barnett-Loro.jpg

*Amber Joy Morehouse from Durham Academy, daughter of Kurt Morehouse of Chapel Hill (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/morehouse_amber.jpg

*Sorell Sumner Massenburg from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, son of Sorell and Joyce Massenburg of Rocky Mount (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/massenburg_sorell.jpg

Guilford

Boris Nikolic from Greensboro Day School, son of Bozica and Zuonko Nikolic of Greensboro (Duke/UNC) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Boris%20Nikolic.jpg

Kate Rebecca Scott from Walter Hines Page High School, daughter of Mary and Whitcomb Scott of Greensboro (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/scott_kate.jpg

Nash

*Sorell Sumner Massenburg from the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, son of Joyce and Sorell Massenburg of Rocky Mount (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/massenburg_sorell.jpg

Orange

Christopher George Glazner from East Chapel Hill High School, son of Mary and Allen Glazner of Chapel Hill (Duke/UNC) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Chris%20Glazner.jpg

*Amber Joy Morehouse from Durham Academy, daughter of Kurt Morehouse of Chapel Hill (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/morehouse_amber.jpg

Wake

Neha Heemal Koul from W.G. Enloe High School, daughter of Pamela and Ajay Koul of Raleigh (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/koul_neha.jpg

Aminah Louise Cherry from The Head-Royce School, daughter of Lauren and Lee Cherry of Oakland (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Aminah%20Cherry.jpg

District of Columbia

Emily Mary Elizabeth Williams from National Cathedral School, daughter of Emily and John Williams of Washington, D.C. (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/williams_emily.jpg

Georgia

Dimia Evelyne Fogam from Robert W. Groves High School, daughter of Olga and Eric Fogam of Pooler (UNC) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Dimia%20Fogam

William K. Krueger from The Darlington School in Rome, son of Anne and William Kruger of Trion (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/krueger_william.jpg

Illinois

*Lauren Heather Berkowitz of Seattle, graduate of New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, daughter of Marnie and Jeffrey Berkowitz of Winnetka (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/berkowitz_lauren.jpg

Nirmala Chilamkurti from Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, daughter of Chinni and Rao Chilamkurti of Gurnee (Duke) (photo not available)

Ebony Shanté Carter from Blue Valley North, daughter of Diana and Joseph Carter of Leawood (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/carter_ebony.jpg

Kentucky

Timothy J. Reilly from Saint Xavier High School, son of Joe and Janet Reilly in Louisville (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/reilly_timothy.jpg

Maryland

Catarina Victoria Rivera from Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, daughter of Marianela and George Rivera of Bowie (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Catarina%20Rivera.jpg

Massachusetts

*Meenakshi Venkata Chivukula from Armand Hammer United World College in Montezuma, N.M., daughter of Lakhimi and Suresh Chivukula of Medfield (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Mccnakshi%20Chivukula.jpg

Sara Schiffman Joseph from Lexington High School, daughter of Linda Schiffman and Paul Joseph of Lexington (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/joseph_sara.jpg

*Sandeep Singh Saluja of Cambridge from The Daly School in Indore, India, son of Gurdeep and Sahendra Saluja of Indore (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Sandeep%20Saluja.jpg

New Mexico

*Meenakshi Venkata Chivukula from Armand Hammer United World College in Montezuma, daughter of Lakhimi and Suresh Chivukula of Medfield, Mass. (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Mccnakshi%20Chivukula.jpg

*Van Thanh Tran from from Armand Hammer United World College in Montezuma, daughter of Le Ha Thanh Chinh Duc Tran of Hanoi, Vietnam (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/tran_van.jpg

New Jersey

Carol Jia-Rou Duh from Hunterdon Central Regional High School, daughter of Hsinli and Jyychiang Duh of Flemington (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/duh_carol.jpg

Madeline Murray Walter from Columbia High School, daughter of Paula and Richard Walter of Maplewood (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/walter_madeline.jpg

New York

Daniel Adam Kimberg from Ardsley High School in Ardsley, son of Judith and Bernard Kimberg of Hartsdale (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Daniel%20Kimberg.jpg

Daniel Alan Willner from Friends Seminary, son of Susan and Gary Willner of New York City (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/wilner_danie.jpg

Ohio

Lauren Nicole Fryer from Lakota East High School in Liberty Township, daughter of Cheryl and James Fryer of West Chester (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Lauren%20Fryer.jpg

Michael J. Hachey from Beavercreek High School, son of Maria Delgado-Hachey and John Hachey of Beavercreek (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/hachey_michael.jpg

Jordan Colleen Kyle from Booker T. Washington High School, daughter of Robin and Michael Kyle of Tulsa (Duke)

http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Jordan%20Kyle.jpg

Pennsylvania

Eli S. Wolfe from Chestnut Hill Academy, son of Margaret Stabert and Stanley Wolfe of Philadelphia (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Eli%20Wolfe.jpg

Tennessee

Eunkyung Priscilla Baek from Hume Fogg Academic High School, daughter of Miyeon and Yeongsu Baek of Nashville (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Priscilla%20Beck.jpg

Emmie Keith Granbery from Harpeth Hall, daughter of Cornelia and Horace Granbery of Nashville (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/granbery_emmie.jpg

Carly Renee Knight from Langham Creek High School, daughter of Rusvelia and Edward Knight of Houston (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Carly%20Knight.jpg

Bradley Steven Retzloff from Kinkaid School, son of Karen and Steve Retzloff of Houston (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/retzloff_bradley.jpg

Virginia

Kelly Lynne Geoghegan from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, daughter of Eileen and Glenn Geoghegan of Ashburn (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/geoghegan_kelly.jpg

*Lauren Heather Berkowitz of Seattle, graduate of New Trier Township High School in Winnetka, Ill., daughter of Marnie and Jeffrey Berkowitz of Winnetka, Ill. (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/berkowitz_lauren.jpg

Sarah Elizabeth Rutstein from The Bush School, daughter of Nancy and Harry Rutstein of Seattle (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Sarah%20Rutstein.jp

Christopher William Keuler from Nicolet High School, son of Christina and David Keuler of Glendale (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/keuler_chris.jpg

Victoria Ivanova Daskalova from Foreign Language School-Pleven, daughter of Maya and Ivan Daskalova of Pleven (Duke) (photo not available)

*Sandeep Singh Saluja of Cambridge, Mass., from The Daly School in Indore, India, son of Gurdeep and Sahendra Saluja of Indore (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Sandeep%20Saluja.jpg

Tanzania

Naike Ellen Swai from the International School Moshi, daughter of Britta and Mark Swai of Moshi (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Naike%20Swai.jpg

Canada

*Vanessa Jane Redditt from Red Cross Nordic United World College in Flekke, Norway, daughter of Virginia and James Redditt of Calgary, Alberta (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Vanessa%20Redditt.jpg

Norway

*Vanessa Jane Redditt from Red Cross Nordic United World College in Flekke, daughter of Virginia and James Redditt of Calgary, Alberta (Duke) http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/robertson%20scholars/Vanessa%20Redditt.jpg

Vietnam

*Van Thanh Tran from Armand Hammer United World College in Montezuma, New Mexico, daughter of Le Ha Thanh and Chinh Duc Tran of Hanoi (UNC) http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2003/tran_van.jpg

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• Robertson Scholars Program: Eric Mlyn, director, (919) 843-7506

• Duke News Service: Keith Lawrence, (919) 681-8059

• UNC News Services: L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589