Duke University Announces Benjamin N. Duke Memorial Scholarship Awards

The
Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship Program at Duke University has selected
eight first-year students from North Carolina for the prestigious
Benjamin N. Duke Memorial Scholarship, which covers full tuition, room,
board and mandatory fees for eight semesters.

The full value of each scholarship,
created with funds from The Duke Endowment, is more than $250,000 over
four years. It is awarded to those with strong academic records who have
distinguished themselves as leaders and demonstrated an affinity for
community service. All students from North and South Carolina who are
admitted to Duke are eligible.

"These eight students have shown
themselves to be superb both in and out of the classroom, embodying our
core values of community, empathy, intentionality, and imagination,"
said Donald Taylor, associate professor of public policy and director of
the Benjamin N. Duke Scholarship program.

"Their parents, high schools and
entire communities should be very proud of them. We believe they will
thrive at Duke and help make our community a better one," he said.

The students were selected from a pool of 24 finalists.

The scholarship also includes
leadership development activities and two summer enhancement
experiences, one in the Carolinas and one abroad, during the recipients'
undergraduate career at Duke.

This year's recipients are:

-- Dominique Andree Beaudry of
Concord, N.C., a graduate of North Carolina School of Science and
Mathematics in Durham, and daughter of Martha Anne Sommer and Laurent
Dominique Beaudry;

-- Grace Ann Danello of Charlotte,
N.C., a graduate of Myers Park High School in Charlotte, and daughter of
Grace R. and Timothy F. Danello;

-- Isa Louise Ferrall of Cary, N.C., a
graduate of Athens Drive High School in Raleigh, and daughter of Drs.
Isabel and Robert Ferrall;

-- Clare Taylor Fisher of Asheville,
N.C., a graduate of Mahindra United World College in Maharashtra, India,
and daughter of Debra B. and Claude R. Fisher Jr.;

-- Charles Joseph Guthrie of
Charlotte, N.C., a graduate of Providence High School in Charlotte, and
son of DeeAnn and Rod Guthrie;

-- Priyang Gaurang Shah of Charlotte,
N.C., a graduate of Myers Park High School in Charlotte, and son of
Bindu and Gaurang Shah;

-- Jordan Pierce Thomas of Chapel
Hill, N.C., a graduate of Carrboro High School in Carrboro, and son of
Gayle B. and Jim C. Thomas; and

-- Natalie Marion Williams of Roaring
Gap, N.C., a graduate of North Carolina School of Science and
Mathematics in Durham, and daughter of Tamala M. Pelphrey and Peter D.
Williams.

The scholarships were established by
The Duke Endowment to honor Benjamin Newton Duke, one of the founders of
Duke University. For more information about the incoming class of B.N.
Duke Scholars, visit the scholarship's website at www.bnduke.org.