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Duke Announces Class of 2018 Baldwin Scholars

The Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program is a leadership initiative for undergraduate women at Duke

The Alice M. Baldwin Scholars Program for undergraduate women and leadership at Duke University has identified 18 first-year women to form its 11th   class.“These young women have the potential to make a difference,” said Colleen Scott, the program’s director. “Over the next four years, they will develop their voices, passions and skills to create change.  While their dreams may be just a glimmer of hope now, we expect them to accomplish much at Duke and in their future professions.”The four-year experience includes academic seminars, a residential living experience and an internship. With 18 women in each class, the program is fully subscribed with 72 participants, and seven alumnae.The Class of 2018 participants, who hail from 11 states and three foreign countries, will launch their Baldwin experience with the first academic seminar and a retreat in January.In 2002, Duke conducted the Women’s Initiative research project, which investigated the quality of life for women at all levels of the institution.  The findings of low self-confidence, limited participation in leadership roles and few opportunities for mentorship led to the creation of the Baldwin Scholars program in 2004.Participants in the Class of 2018 were selected from a record pool of 173 applications after two rounds of interviews by program staff and current Baldwin Scholars.The Class of 2018 participants are:CALIFORNIAAnika Ayyar of SaratogaCONNECTICUTSamantha Holmes of RidgefieldCarine Torres of GreenwichFLORIDAElizabeth Barahona of OrlandoGEORGIAChandler Phillips of LawrencevilleMARYLANDEvan Bell of ColumbiaMINNESOTAAnna Kaul of StillwaterNEW JERSEYErin Butrico of WarrenKathryn Hammond of SummitSamantha Siegel of MontclairNORTH CAROLINASydney Jeffs of Chapel HillAmir Williams of RaleighTEXASShruti Rao of PlanoVIRGINIAAnita Desai of Virginia BeachWASHINGTONRiaynka Ganguly of BellevueENGLANDChloe McLain of LondonJAPANMali Shimojo of TokyoNIGERIAOgechi Onyeka of LagosFor more information on the Baldwin Scholars program, visit http://baldwinscholars.duke.edu.