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Project BUILD: A Duke Education Begins With a Week in Durham

Part of the Welcome to the Class of 2022 Series
Members of the Class of 2022 participating in Project BUILD prepare for a day of learning and work in Durham. Photo by Jared Lazarus

Duke students participating in Project BUILD prepare for a day of learning and work in Durham. Photo by Jared Lazarus

Jared Lazarus

For dozens of members of the Class of 2022, their first step forward as Duke students and Durham residents was an 8-day venture into the city as part of Project BUILD. The project involves students in a variety of academic and civic engagement activities to bond with each other and learn more about their new communities.

During the week, the students visited local schools, non-profit organizations and civic spaces such as Central Park.

Project BUILD students work in the Watts Elementary School's library.

Students also spent an afternoon clearing weeds and trash from Durham's Central Park.

Along with these service projects, fun activities such as costume roller skating, karaoke, bowling, and Durham Bulls games brought the BUILD community together. The program ends Monday.

Project BUILD is just one of the pre-orientation programs designed to help students acclimate to Duke and their classmates. Project WILD focuses on outdoor learning, Project WAVES talks place at Duke Marine Lab. For a full list of programs, click here.

At EK Powe Elementary School, students helped teachers get their classrooms ready for the school year.

Preparing potatoes for delivery at the local food bank.