Meet the Class of 2009
Together, the 205 members of the class of 2009 represent eight countries, 36 states, and 112 undergraduate institutions -- 14 are "double Dukies." They possess a range of educational experience, including advanced study in accounting, biology, physics, human rights, and chemistry. Frequent travelers, many of them have trekked across the country or around the world, visiting places such as Costa Rica, Russia, and Mongolia. With backgrounds in education, sports and entertainment, politics, public policy, business, technology, and public interest, the class of 2009 brings a wealth of expertise.
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Frequent Travelers
Members of the class of 2009 were born and raised in Bolivia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Canada, China, Estonia, France, Ghana, Honduras, India, Mexico, Norway, Panama, Russia, South Korea, Trinidad and Tobago, Vietnam, and the United States. Some are fluent in Spanish, French, Mandarin, Chinese, Japanese, Taiwanese, Urdu, Norwegian, Italian, German, Thai, Hebrew, Russian, Czech, and Vietnamese. Several have traveled, worked, or studied in Italy, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, China, Germany, Taiwan, Costa Rica, Mongolia, Russia, and Palau.
A Wealth of Experience
They have been teachers, coaches, interpreters, and Fulbright scholars. One worked on special projects for the School District of Philadelphia and another as lead math coach for the NYC Department of Education. Many have been involved in sports and entertainment, working for ESPN.com as an NFL feature writer and analyst, or as authors, singers, dancers, and musicians. Several have worked in politics, public policy, and in leadership roles or have held positions in government, military, or international organizations. One student worked for the vice president of Palau, while another was the presidential appointee to the Department of Homeland Security. A number served as interns at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Several have pursued successful professional careers, working as real estate brokers, analysts, engineers, managers, and consultants. Others are business owners and entrepreneurs. One is the founder of howtobewebsmart.com, a site designed to boost consumers' "web IQs." Some have conducted advanced research on old-growth forests in the Great Smoky Mountains, the effects of human rights trials on democratic consolidation in Argentina and Chile, the Social impact of video lottery terminals in Indiana, and new methods for determining molecular volume changes. One won the Grand Prize in Physics and first place in statistical design at the 51st International Science and Engineering Fair.
Active Lives
More than half of the first-year class has worked or volunteered for public interest non-profit agencies and community-based organizations. Some have joined the battle against breast cancer and the AIDS epidemic, worked with Red Cross, served as missionaries, volunteered with AmeriCorps, and served on the board of directors or as facilitators of youth groups. Many have been active in organizations that help survivors of child abuse and domestic violence, and one was involved in the International Justice Mission, aimed at exposing and correcting human rights violations abroad. A number are athletes, having played on their college's soccer, water polo, wrestling, hockey, baseball, swimming, diving, and crew teams. One student is training and competing as an amateur boxer and another cycled 850 kilometers of the ancient pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. They are hikers, personal fitness trainers, jet skiers, divers, and runners.