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Four first-year students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University have just received a prestigious award that promises to change the shape of their college careers.

Four first-year students at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke University have just received a prestigious award that promises to change the shape of their college careers.

Following a competitive selection process, the students have been invited to join the Robertson Scholars Program.

The leadership development program grants a full merit scholarship and the opportunity to study at both UNC and Duke. The award funds tuition, room and board and fees and provides up to three summers of domestic and international experiences.

Robertson Scholars are enrolled at and graduate from one school or the other and take courses at both schools. As sophomores, they spend a semester in residence on the other campus. Robertson Scholars also come together during the academic year for research projects, leadership development, service-learning programs and seminars taught by faculty of both universities. Currently, 134 Robertson Scholars study on the two campuses.

Until last year, only high school seniors were eligible for the program. This is the second year in which a small number of current first-year students are invited to become Robertson Scholars. Last year, five students were selected as part of the initiative.

In a separate selection process, about 36 high school seniors are chosen each spring to become Robertson Scholars at UNC or Duke. Those scholars will be announced in May.

All scholars are selected based on their demonstration of outstanding academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, force of moral character, exceptional leadership potential and interest in working with others.

More information is available at http://www.robertsonscholars.org.

“Our community is delighted to welcome Alex, Jordan, Kaitlin and Stefanie,” said Jeanne Kirschner, the Robertson Scholars Program’s associate director. “In only a few months on campus, these individuals have distinguished themselves as talented and curious intellectuals, active and engaging leaders and young men and women of strong moral character, committed to making an impact on the world around them.”

The program was founded in 2000 by Julian and the late Josie Robertson of New York with a $24 million gift.

The new scholars, who will enter the program immediately as members of the Robertson class of 2014, are:

UNC:
Jordan Imbrey, son of Meryl and Brian Imbrey of Charlotte
Stefanie Schwemlein, daughter of Maria Ngu and Heinz Schwemlein of Kernersville

Duke:
Alex Bloedel, son of Beth and Kurt Bloedel of New Canaan, Conn.
Kaitlin Gladney, daughter of Melissa and James Gladney of Barrington, R.I.

Note: Kirschner can be reached at (919) 668-1436 or kirschner@robertsonscholars.org.

Broadcast editors: Duke and UNC each provide on-campus satellite uplink facilities for live or pre-recorded television interviews. Both are also equipped with ISDN connectivity for radio interviews. At Duke, broadcast reporters should contact Scott Wells at (919) 660-1741 or James Todd at (919) 681-8061 to arrange an interview. At UNC, contact studio manager Rob Holliday at (919) 259-2193 (cell) or LJ Toler at (919) 962-8589 or (919) 219-6374.

Duke Office of News & Communications contact: Steve Hartsoe, (919) 681-4515, steve.hartsoe@duke.edu
UNC News Services contact: L.J. Toler, (919) 962-8589, laura_toler@unc.edu

News websites:
http://www.dukenews.duke.edu
http://uncnews.unc.edu/

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