News Release

CHAPEL HILL -- Pablo Durana, a junior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been chosen as a member of USA Today’s 2005 All-USA College Academic Team.

Durana was one of 20 undergraduates nationwide chosen for representation on the "first team." A panel of judges selected the 20 from more than 600 students nominated by colleges and universities nationwide.

These students – their photographs and accomplishments – are featured today (Feb. 17) in a two-page color spread in USA Today. They also will receive a $2,500 cash award.

An additional 40 undergraduates were selected for the second and third teams. The All-USA College Academic Team honors the 60 students as representative of all outstanding students in the nation’s colleges and universities.

Durana, a communication studies major and business minor, is a native of Bogota, Colombia, whose home is now Montreal. He founded and coordinates the Carolina Language Partnership. This program offers one-on-one English lessons to Hispanic dining services, housekeeping and groundskeeping employees at UNC.

"In addition to teaching English, the program is a way to make the employees feel more welcome on campus," Durana said. "The volunteers learn to appreciate the employees so it’s not only beneficial for the people being taught, it’s also beneficial for the teachers."

He developed the program with the Social Entrepreneur Scholarship he received through UNC’s APPLES Service-Learning Program.

Durana also tutors a dining services employee twice a week as a part of the program, and they have become good friends outside of the classroom setting, he said.

"It’s a good feeling to have been able to impact the lives of these people," he added.

During the fall 2004 semester, Durana and his sister cycled about 2,700 miles through minority culture regions of western China. His study was made possible by UNC’s Burch Fellows Program, a program started by a gift from UNC alumnus Lucius Burch III that provides grants of up to $6,000 each to support unique independent study projects. Durana is now editing a documentary of the journey.

In addition to filmmaking and coordinating the Carolina Language Partnership, Durana is an athlete: He is a member of UNC’s varsity cross-country, indoor and outdoor track teams.

His honors include UNC’s Blue & White magazine "Person of the Year," recipient of UNC’s Robert B. House Distinguished Service Award and Academic All-American in outdoor track, all presented in 2004.

In selecting the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team, judges consider grades, leadership, activities and, most importantly, how students extend their intellectual talents beyond the classroom.

For more information on the All-USA College Academic Team, visit allstars.usatoday.com.

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Photo note: Download a photo of Durana at http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/durana_pablo_2_05.JPG

News Services contact: Deb Saine, (919) 962-8415 or deborah_saine@unc.edu