Durham, NC - 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.