Robertson Scholars Program
Coordinates: 36°00′07″N 78°55′21″W / 36.00187°N 78.92239°W
The Robertson Scholars Program is a joint full-ride merit scholarship and leadership development program at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The scholarship offers participants a unique “dual citizenship” at both Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill to approximately 36 students selected from among the more than 60,000 applications to the two schools each year.[1]
The program also runs a bus service connecting the Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill campuses.[2]
History and Background
The program was created in 2000 by benefactor Julian Robertson, a 1955 graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill. Mr. Robertson sought to increase collaboration between Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill as well as to recruit students to the two universities.[3][4] His initial $24 million gift as well as his subsequent gifts to the program and the universities are overseen by a Board of Directors including Duke University President Richard Brodhead, UNC-Chapel Hill Chancellor Holden Thorp, and Julian Robertson himself.[5]
The program covers all college costs (tuition, room and board, a laptop, plus a living stipend) and provides recipients full funding for three summers of global travel, research, and internships.[6][7] The summer components of the program have served as a model for DukeEngage, an initiative to offer the opportunity for summer research and internships to all Duke undergraduates.[8][9]
Program participants are required to spend the second semester of their sophomore year away from their home university, and are allowed to attend classes at their "away" university until graduation. While athletes at both schools are eligible to participate in the program, none had been accepted until UNC field hockey player Loren Shealy was named as a 2012 recipient (she is attending Duke full-time in spring 2013 along with Jefferson Sinclair).[10]
Participants have regularly won Truman Scholarships and Fulbright Fellowships. (2005).[8][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]
Controversy
In December 2006, the Duke Student Government banned UNC-Chapel Hill based Robertson Scholars from participating in tenting for the Duke game versus UNC-Chapel Hill, although they can still get in via the walk-up line. This caused considerable controversy on the campus and garnered national media attention.[19][20][21]
More recently, questions have been raised about the ability of Duke-based Robertson Scholars to vote in UNC-Chapel Hill student government elections.[22]
References
- ^ UNC, Duke announce winners of Robertson Scholarships. UNC-Chapel Hill News Services.
- ^ The Robertson Bus: Not Just for Students. Duke University Office of News & Communications.
- ^ Strachman, D. A. (2004). Julian Robertson: tiger in the land of bulls and bears. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley.
- ^ Forbes 400 Richest Americans—Julian Robertson
- ^ Board of Directors. Robertson Scholars Program.
- ^ Robertson Scholars Program. Duke University Undergraduate Financial Aid Office.
- ^ Greensboro student wins UNC-Duke scholarship. Greensboro News-Record.
- ^ a b Duke Program Seeks to Expand Service Work. The New York Times.
- ^ New Support for Community Service. Inside Higher Education.
- ^ Johnson, Greg (November 2012). "Field hockey player to gain unique perspective on North Carolina-Duke rivalry". NCAA. Retrieved January 3, 2013.
- ^ Peterson's smart choices: honors programs & colleges. Princeton, N.J.: Peterson's.
- ^ Duke junior named Truman Scholar. Duke University Office of News & Communications.
- ^ UNC’s Lauren McAlee wins $30,000 Truman Scholarship. UNC News Services.
- ^ Robertson Scholar E. Mary Williams wins Truman Scholarship. Robertson Scholars Program.
- ^ Frequently Asked Quesitons. Robertson Scholars Program.
- ^ 2007 Truman Scholars. The Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation.
- ^ The Power of One. The Duke Chronicle.
- ^ Rutland graduation speaker is just 21. Rutland Herald.
- ^ Krzyzewskiville closed to joint scholars from North Carolina. "USA Today." Accessed on 12 Dec 2006.
- ^ Discrimination at Duke[dead link] The Daily Tar Heel.
- ^ UNC outrage spurs Duke rebuke.[dead link] News & Observer.
- ^ BOE lets Duke students vote.[dead link] The Daily Tar Heel.
External links
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