For the first time, the Robertson Scholars Program at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has admitted students who are already enrolled at the two universities.
Five first-year students have been invited to join the program, a comprehensive leadership initiative that grants students a full merit scholarship and the opportunity to study at both UNC and Duke. The new scholars, who will enter the program immediately as members of the Robertson class of 2013, are:
-- Fabio Berger of Clarens, Switzerland, the son of Andreas and Andrea Berger, Duke.
-- Alpha Tessema of Beaverton, Ore., the son of Desta Tessema and Abinnet Haile, Duke.
-- Kelsey Woodford of Birmingham, Ala., the daughter of Rod Woodford and Dr. Lisa Guay-Woodford, Duke.
-- Alec Rubenstein of Boca Raton, Fla., the son of Adam Rubenstein and Monica Gettleman, UNC.
-- Lauren Winston of Richmond, Va., the daughter of Leslie and Betty Winston, UNC.
Students enroll at one campus or the other but take classes at both. They also spend one semester in residence at the sister university. Currently 134 Robertson Scholars study at the two universities.
Until this year, only high school seniors have been eligible for the program. About 36 seniors are selected each spring to become Robertson Scholars at UNC or Duke. While the program had planned to award up to four scholarships to first-year students in this pilot initiative, the selection committee was so impressed by all five finalists that each was invited to become a Robertson Scholar.
"Our community is delighted to welcome Alec, Lauren, Fabio, Alpha and Kelsey, each of whom has demonstrated exceptional leadership potential through his or her integrity, pragmatic idealism, intellectual curiosity and passion for working with and inspiring others," said Alex Perwich, the program's executive director.
The scholarship funds tuition, room and board and fees and provides up to three summers of domestic and international experiences. Robertson Scholars come together for research projects, leadership development, service-learning programs and seminars taught by faculty of both universities.
The program was founded in 2000 by Julian and Josie Robertson of New York with a $24 million gift. For more information, go to www.robertsonscholars.org.