Angier B. Duke The Angier B. Duke Memorial Scholarship Program is Duke University's flagship merit scholarship for undergraduates. Since 1948, the program has recognized young men and women who demonstrate, through their excellent academic and personal records, outstanding promise of achievement in their chosen fields. Created by Benjamin N. and Sarah P. Duke, these merit scholarships honor their son, Angier Buchanan Duke.

Over the years, the A.B. Duke Scholarship Program has helped Duke to matriculate the most academically ambitious applicants. These students are, by any measure, among the best in the nation—and the world. As a result, we now have a long history of looking to the future, by preparing the exceptional minds of today to meet emerging challenges.

Today, the program continues to attract the most intellectually talented, creative, and curious students to Duke. We are grateful to the Angier B. Duke Memorial, Inc. and The Duke Endowment, whose long-term investment in the Program has helped Duke rise to the top ranks of American universities.

A.B. Duke Timeline

1925

Benjamin N. and Sarah P. Duke create the Angier B. Duke Memorial, Inc. in memory of their son. Loans are awarded to exceptional North Carolina students on basis of need.

1948

Scholarship is redesigned from need-based loans to a full-tuition merit scholarship, the Angier Duke Regional Prize, awarded to six North Carolina students (four men and two women). The award initially is set at $750 annually, “the approximate amount needed to pay college fees, plus room rent,” renewable up to four years, and increased to $1,000.

1955

Reynolds Price (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1955) wins the Rhodes Scholarship.

1957

Scaled stipends are instituted, ranging from an honorary award of $500 annually to maximum of $1,500, renewable up to four years.

1958

Reynolds Price (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1955) joins the Duke faculty in the Department of English.

1959

The name of the award is changed from the Angier B. Duke Memorial Prize to the Angier B. Duke Memorial Scholarship. Awards, ranging from $500 to $1,800 annually, are given to 35 applicants from the states of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, West Virginia, Kentucky, and the District of Columbia. Fourteen awards are given to applicants throughout the U.S. without regard to geographical area.

1962

Presentation of commemorative medals to scholarship winners initiated.

1967

Regional restrictions removed; all applications to Duke are considered without regard to geographical area. Applicants indicate interest on financial aid form. North Carolina applicants are invited to participate in regional interviews.
Currently enrolled A.B. Duke Scholars are included on the selection committee for finals competition.

1973

Duke in Oxford summer program added as benefit of the scholarship.
Self-Designed Educational Experience funding added.

1976

The A.B. Duke Advisory Committee is established.
Dr. John Fein, Dean of Trinity Arts & Sciences, appoints Dr. Wesley Kort, Professor of Religion, as A.B. Duke Faculty Advisor beginning Spring, 1977.

1978

John Gordon Ott (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1979) wins Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

1981

Dr. Ernestine Friedl, Dean of Trinity Arts & Sciences, appoints Dr. Ronald G. Witt, Professor of History, as first A.B. Duke faculty director, removing program from direction of admissions office.
Betty Cowan hired as first administrative secretary.
Full tuition, valued at $6,000, awarded; maximum number of scholarships reduced from 25 to approximately 20.

1983

Marie Lynn Miranda (A.B Duke Scholar, Class of 1985) wins Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
Dr. Ron Witt takes leave of absence; Dr. Norman Christensen (Ecology) serves as interim director.

1985

Ursula S. Werner (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1985) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
Dr. David Paletz (Political Science) serves as interim director.

1987

William Henry Lipscomb (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1987) wins Rhodes Scholarship.

1988

Dr. Norman Christensen appointed faculty director.

1989

Duke University A.B. Duke Scholarship Endowment Fund established.

1990

Dr. Tom Robisheaux (History) appointed faculty director.
Marie Lynn Miranda (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1985) joins faculty in the Nicholas School of the Environment.

1991

Number of scholarships set at 15, in perpetuity.

1992

Jeffrey Baker (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1980) joins Duke Medical School faculty.

1994

Alex Hartemink (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1994) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
Alison Mann Stuebe (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1995) wins Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

1995

Michael Wenthe (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1995) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
Eric Greitens (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1996) wins Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
Alison E. Meekhof (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1995) wins Marshall Scholarship.
Richard Paul Zimering (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1995) wins Winston Churchill Scholarship.

1996

Elizabeth Carol Ayer (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1996) .wins Winston Churchill Scholarship
Eric Greitens (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1996) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
Dr. Melissa Malouf (English) appointed faculty director.

1997

Dean John Sauer (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1997) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
Armando Chapin Rodriguez (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1997) wins Marshall Scholarship.
A.B. Duke Scholarships endowed in perpetuity by the Angier B. Duke Memorial, Inc. and The Duke Endowment.
President’s Research Fellowship offered to matriculating A.B. Duke finalists not awarded a scholarship.

1998

Office of Undergraduate Scholars and Fellows (OUSF) established to centralize programming and recruitment for merit scholarships.

1999

Neil Hattangadi (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1999) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
Evan A. Young (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1999) wins Marshall Scholarship.
Roberto Jose Gonzalez (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2000) and Julian Harris (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2000) win Harry S. Truman Scholarships.
Christopher E. Beasley (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1999) wins Winston Churchill Scholarship.

2000

Julian Harris (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2000) wins Rhodes Scholarship.

2001

David Matthew Baugh (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2001) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
Alex Hartemink (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 1994) joins Duke faculty in the Department of Computer Science.
OUSF moves to 103 West Duke Building (September 20).

2002

Alexis Blane (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2002), Pavan Cheruvu (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2002), and Samuel Malone (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2002) win Rhodes Scholarships.
Jona A. Hattangadi (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2001) wins Fulbright Fellowship.
David A. Chokski (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2003) wins Harry S. Truman Scholarship.
Dr. Ian Baucom (English) appointed director.

2003

President’s Research Fellowship offered to A.B. Duke Scholars.
David A. Chokshi (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2003) and Jacob G. Foster (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2003) win Rhodes Scholarships.

2004

Pooja Kumar (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2001) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
Ethan D. Eade (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2004) wins Marshall Scholarship.
Neil S. Siegel (A.B. Duke Scholars, Class of 1994) joins the Duke faculty in the School of Law.
Betty Cowan, A.B. Duke coordinator since 1981 and OUSF coordinator since 1998, retires July 30; Babs Wise takes over in August, 2004.

2005

Emily Heikamp (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2005) wins Marshall Scholarship.
Hirsh Sandesara (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2006) wins Harry S. Truman Scholarship.

2006

William Liang Hwang (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2006) wins Rhodes Scholarship.
“Thinking in Public” seminars established Fall 2006.

2007

Brandon Levin (A.B. Duke Scholar, Class of 2007) wins Winston Churchill Scholarship.
Generous grant from the Angier B. Duke Memorial, Inc., funds new initiatives for A.B. Duke Scholars’ community development.
Alex Rosenberg appointed faculty director; A.B. Duke assistant director position created, Lisa Robinson Bailey hired as assistant director.