Contacts: Eric Mlyn, program director, (919) 843-7506

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

Mike McFarland, UNC News Services, (919) 962-8593

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

The Robertson Scholars Program, an innovative joint merit-based scholarship program at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will soon begin its second year with 32 top high school seniors. These students, selected as part of the program’s second class of incoming students, come from as far away as South Korea and as close as Durham and Chapel Hill.

UNC Chancellor James Moeser and Duke President Nannerl O. Keohane today (May 8) announced the winners of the four-year scholarship.

"Buses are shuttling, collaborators are collaborating, and the first batch of Robertson Scholars is happily ensconced on both campuses," Keohane said. "Their presence and their passion underscore the many cooperative relationships already in place between Duke and UNC, and they help others take advantage of the best of both worlds. Given the early success and vitality of this unique program, we are very pleased at the prospect that a second cadre of the brightest and finest students will come to this program and be shaped into a new generation of leaders."

Added Moeser, "The Robertson Scholars Program demonstrates that collaboration and innovation are key ingredients in successful leadership. The first Robertson Scholars class members have participated in classes, discussions and projects that have engaged their sense of responsibility and stimulated their creativity. Students, faculty and staff at both Duke and Carolina have worked hard to ensure the success of this collaborative effort. With the selection of the second Robertson Scholars class, we look forward to further opportunities to share ideas and experiences between the two campuses."

Intra-university collaboration has been greatly enhanced by the Robertson Scholars Program, which is funded by a $24 million endowment gift from Julian and Josie Robertson announced in June 2000. Robertson Scholars come together for special seminars taught by faculty of both universities, study-abroad opportunities, internships, research projects, service-learning programs and a full semester in residence at the other campus. 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 between the two universities.

The program provides full tuition, room and living stipends for the scholars chosen at UNC or full tuition at Duke, summer community-building and enrichment opportunities in the United States and abroad, support for research and related travel and top-of-the-line laptop computers for each scholar.

Students do not apply directly for a Robertson Scholarship. The admissions offices on both campuses choose applications from the overall applicant pool. The Robertson program seeks high school students who have exhibited academic excellence along with demonstrated leadership roles in community service and interest in and commitment to cultural diversity.

A parallel selection process took place on each campus: 120 Robertson Scholars semi-finalists were identified by the admissions office on each campus. Forty Robertson Scholar finalists were chosen by a selection committee on each campus. These finalists attended a finalist weekend March 23-26. Each finalist was interviewed by a committee of four faculty, staff and members of the community.

Thirty Robertson Scholars of the class of 2005 are about to set out on summer community service placement throughout the southeastern United States.

For more information, visit www.robertsonscholars.org.

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Note: Following is a complete list of winners, which campus they will attend, other biographical information, parents’ names and a URL to download photographs of each recipient. Editors needing other assistance with photos of the winners may contact UNC Photographer Dan Sears, (919) 962-8592, dsears@email.unc.edu, or Duke University Photography at (919) 684-4391.

Charles Adams – Mountain Brook High School, Birmingham, Ala.

· Class president

· Project chairman for Habitat for Humanity

· National Merit Commended Student

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/adams_charles.jpg

Rebecca Chasnovitz- Enloe High School, Cary, N.C.

· National Merit semifinalist

· State debate champion

· WUNC-FM "Morning Edition" and "The State of Things" Commentator

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/chasnovitz_rebecca.jpg

Paula Kweskin- Providence Senior High School, Charlotte, N.C.

· North Carolina Council N’siah President for B’nai B’rith Youth Organization

· Student Advisory Board Chair for the Echo Foundation

· Co-editor, literary magazine

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/kweskin_paula.jpg

Mark Laabs-White Station High School, Memphis, Tenn.

· National Merit semifinalist

· National History Day: best state entry

· Youth Delegate to The Netherlands representing the city of Memphis

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Laabs25.jpg

Lauren McAlee-South River High School, Gambrills, Md.

· National Merit semifinalist

· President of Youth RISE, a community service club

· Voting student member for the Maryland Board of Education

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/mcalee_lauren.jpg

Abigail Michaud-University School of Nashville, Brentwood, Tenn.

· National Merit Commended Scholar

· Attended month long program on genetics at Columbia University

· Board of Director of Oasis Center, non-profit organization for teens

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/michaud_abigail.jpg

Matt Mullane-Oak Ridge High School, Oak Ridge, Tenn.

· Student Council president

· Concert-Master of Oak Ridge High School orchestra

· World Leadership Congress delegate

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/mullane_matt.jpg

Archie Odom-Myers Park High School, Charlotte, N.C.

· Technical Theatre participant

· Awarded Honorable Mention for the Fed Challenge, sponsored by the Federal Reserve Board

· Carowinds "Teen Who Takes Action" community service award

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/odom_archie.jpg

Nicholas Shepard- Enloe High School, Raleigh, N.C.

· Board of Directors for Youth Voice for Raleigh

· National Council of Teachers of English writing award winner

· National Merit Scholarship semifinalist

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/shepard_nicholas.jpg

Dalia Singleton-Thomas Jefferson High School Science and Technology, McLean, Va.

· President of the Black Student Union

· National Achievement semifinalist

· Life Gets Better Scholar

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/singleton_dalia.jpg

Timothy Stallman-Enloe High School, Raleigh, N.C.

· Member, Board of Directors, Youth Voice of Raleigh

· Second-place team, American Computer Science League All-Star Contest

· Gold Medal, National Latin Exam

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/stallman_timothy.jpg

Caitlin Steiger-White Station High School, Memphis, Tenn.

· National Prudential Spirit of Community Award

· Founder/Director of Help for Hope House 5K

· American Institute for Public Service Jefferson Award for Outstanding Public Service

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Steiger25.jpg

Jan-Willem Van Der Vaart- Thomas Jefferson High School Science and Technology, Annandale, Va.

· National Merit semifinalist

· Gold Medal, National Russian Essay Contest

· Baseball team captain

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/vandervaart_jan-willem.jpg

Mary Zimmerman-The Westminster Schools, Atlanta, Ga.

· Girls’ class president

· Turman Leadership Scholarship

· Tour de Force Award (Lynx yearbook)

URL: http://www.unc.edu/news/pics/students/robertson/2002/zimmerman_mary.jpg

Youngji Bae-Paewon -- Daewon Foreign Language High School, Seoul, Korea

· Editor-in-Chief of Youth magazine "Green Voice"

· Master of Ceremonies for World Youth Festival

· Vice President of Red Cross Youth

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Bae25.jpg

Andrew Chao -- Atlantic Community High School, Boca Raton, Fla.

· President of Model United Nations

· Varsity Swimmer

· Violinist in the Munich International Youth Orchestra and String Quarte

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/chao6.jpg

Colleen Cook -- Friends Academy, Upper Brookville, N.Y.

· National Merit Commended Student

· Scholar Athlete

· Long Island Sounds’ Conservancy Grant

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Cook16.jpg

Ian Faerstein -- The Branson School, Kentfield, Calif.

· Opinions editor, high school paper

· First-chair clarinet, high school orchestra

· Vice-president, Human Rights Club

No photo available.

Jared Fish -- Farmington High School, Unionville, Conn.

· Student Council president

· Creator of FUNEDESIN Rainforest Preservation Club

· Madrigal singer

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Fish12.jpg

Olivia Sheau-Ching Fu -- Watchung Hills Regional High School, Warren, N.J.

· AWARE, founder and president

· Diversity Club, president

· National Merit semifinalist

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Fu31.jpg

Kimberly Hayez -- St. Mary’s High School, Raleigh, N.C.

· Student Government, Executive Chair for Student Life

· Tutor at Wiley Elementary, founder and president

· Spanish Club, president

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Hayez5.jpg

Marina Kusko -- Maine Township High School East, Des Plaines, Ill.

· Participant in National Youth Leadership Conference, Washington, D.C.

· Treasurer for Amnesty International

· Co-founder and captain of West African Drumming Group

No photo available.

Lindsey Luebchow -- Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, Ill.

· Poetry editor, Solstice (literary magazine)

· Co-captain and most valuable offensive player, lacrosse

· Member, Amnesty International

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Luebchow5.jpg

Pema McGuinness -- Phillips Exeter Academy, Exeter N.H.

· Prize in second-year Chinese

· Founding Member of Students for a Free Tibet

· Organizer of Team Exeter for the Jimmy Fund Walk

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/McGuiness21.jpg

Dinushika Mohottige -- Suncoast Community High School, Lake Worth, Fla.

· First-place, Palm Beach County Science Fair-2001-Engineering

· President, National Honor Society/Tutoring Chair

· Award recipient and member of the Florida All-State Choir

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Mohottige29.jpg

Seema Parkash -- The Red Cross Nordic United World College, Flekke, Norway

· Photography instructor

· English Literary Drama Debating Society, ranked "National Top 20 Best Speakers"

· Student Council, House of Representatives in charge of academics

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Parkash8.jpg

Daniel Potucek -- Georgetown Preparatory, Germantown, Md.

· Swimmer, 2001 All-American Scholar-Athlete

· Fitzgerald Scholar (leadership)

· Maryland Distinguished Scholar, 2001

No photo available.

Paul Sarker -- Malvern Preparatory School, Collegeville, Pa.

· Varsity track team Co-captain

· S.E.E. (Diversity Club) president

· Progathi (Bengali religious organization for the greater Philadelphia Area) Youth Author

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Sarker20.jpg

Melissa D. Thompson -- New Rochelle High School, New Rochelle, N.Y.

· President of the Environmental Club

· Secretary for Animal Rights Club

· Violinist, soloist for two orchestras

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Thompson30.jpg

Lydia Watts -- Shaker Heights High School, Shaker Heights, Ohio

· Student Group on Race Relations, CORE Leader

· President of Girl Scouts Troop

· Vice-president of Spanish Honor Society

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Watts16.jpg

Adam Yoffie -- Westfield High School, Westfield, N.J.

· NFTY T.A.G (Teens Against Guns) founder and administrator

· Food Bank Volunteer, volunteer/founder

· Junior Optimist Club, president

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Yoffie31.jpg

Yaolin Zhou -- Bellaire Senior High School, Houston, Texas

· Girl Scouts, Senior Senate

· American Field Service, president

· Three Penny Press, School Newspaper, editor

URL: http://photo1.dukenews.duke.edu/pages/Duke_News_Service/Robertson/Zhou35.jpg

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