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Senior Presented 2014 Samuel DuBois Cook Award

Naureen Huda was honored for volunteer work in Durham community

Part of the Senior Stories: Class of '14 Series

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Senior Naureen Huda was awarded the 2014 Samuel DuBois Cook award to an undergraduate for her community service in Durham this month. The award, which was also given to six other recipients, honors Cook, who  joined Duke in 1966 as a political scientist, educator and human rights activist and became the first African-American professor to hold a regular rank faculty appointment at a predominately white college or university in the South.  The Cook Society was founded in 1997 to recognize and celebrate the African-American presence at the university. 

Naureen Huda is from Akron, Ohio, pursuing a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Spanish. She has volunteered since freshman year with The Girls Club, a mentoring program administered through the Emily K Center, whose aim is to provide a supportive and social group for adolescent girls within the Durham community, and to connect Duke women with middle school girls from Durham, many of whom lack a strong, supportive environment. As president of The Girls Club in 2013-2014, Naureen works to engage the program's mentee's more closely with the Duke community. Among other things this year, The Girls Club took its mentees to a Duke women's basketball game. 

Naureen also has volunteered with the Duke Pre-health Volunteer Program, Duke Children’s Hospital Ronald McDonald Family Room, and GANO (Gente Aprendiendo Para Neuvas Oportunidades), tutoring Hispanic adults in English as a second language. She is also affiliated with Her Campus Duke Magazine, Duke Partnership for Service, and Prospective Health Care Club, all while maintaining her place on the Dean's List.

One of her nominators said that she "leads her fellow mentors with a civic approach that is direct and consistent with addressing the issues facing today’s women of minority. She is admired for her knowledge and is seen as one who leads with integrity, experience and purpose." Another supporter, Sam Miglarese, director of civic engagement, said that "while many students at Duke are content to stay within the campus bubble focusing solely on their academics and personal college experience, Naureen has dedicated a great deal of her time to contributing to the betterment of the Durham community through her work with The Girls Club."

Naureen intends to pursue medical education to become a physician and to integrate her passion for public service with healthcare.