Blog

Announcement of Nominees

Congratulations to the following students, organizations, faculty and staff, who have been nominated to receive Duke University’s most prestigious campus-wide honors for student leadership and service. Awards recipients and nominees will be celebrated at In The Spotlight on April 20, 2017, 5 pm, Arts Annex. The event is open to the Duke community.

Last Thursday, a cozy group gathered for a light brunch with philanthropist and Duke alumna Penny Pilgram George (WC ’65), hosted by the Center for Leadership Development and Social Action. 

As the Bryan Center undergoes construction we are reminded of the generous donors who supported the inception of the facility over 30 years ago. We would like to thank all of those who have offered support to the Bryan Center over the years. We truly appreciate all that our donors do for us! 

Bryan Center Supporters:

I know that this paragraph will not do justice to my experience during ASB: Arts & Activism. I had the opportunity to be a site leader. The process of planning the logistics and directing the activities during the week challenged me as a leader and as a Duke student.

We would like to congratulate all of the nominees for the 2013 Duke Student Leadership and Service Awards. Stay tuned for the announcement of recipients after April 17th, and thank you to all of those who nominated others and for the nominees and all that they have done within their community. 

Betsy Alden Outstanding Service-Learning Awards

Haley Barrier

Sarah Gordon

Alana Jackson

Ashley Tsai

Baldwin Scholars Unsung Heroine Award

Nelly-Ange Kontchou

Janicanne Shane

Chandler Thomas

Ashley Tsai

Class of 2016 Leadership Award

Jesse Hu

Luke Maier

Gayle Powell

Carolyn Rath

Zalika Sankara

Julie Anne Levey Memorial Leadership Award

Jamal Edwards

Fernando Jin

by Alex Shapanka

Leadership is not just another line on your resume. It’s not something that you can just address during interviews to give your candidacy more credence. It is in fact quite rare to come across great leadership. Yet for some reason, we think this campus is teaming with leaders. Probably because we hand out titles like they’re bin candy on sale.

Having a title next to our name doesn’t mean diddly. DSG president, Vice President of Education for DPS or DUU Major Attractions chair are all just signifiers of responsibility. Inconsequential words. It is the quality of our performance that matters.

by Deborah Hackney, Associate Director, Leadership Development and Social Action

Leadership can occur and even thrive without a title or position.

That's what students told us after a recent leadership program we hosted. For many, this was an epiphany that eradicated previously held notions. Rather than being in the front initiating and creating plans, students boldly reported that they understood how they could also make a difference through influence and steady participation with others toward a collective vision.

Leading without the requirement of formal position or title is a main tenet of our leadership framework. We posit that as citizens of Duke, Durham and the world, our abilities to make positive change can happen within or outside of a role.

by 2012 LeaderShape Institute graduates Sonam Aidasani, T'14, Lindsey Huth, T'15 & Ciera Price, T'14

By Alex Shapanka

I’ve felt lost and overwhelmed countless times in college. Never because of academics. And rarely to the point of mental unraveling. You know those moments of frustration from the Orwellian Duke system, the backward social norms on campus, or just life in general. Pretty sticky stuff to navigate.

It gets exhausting constantly trudging through the muck. There were moments when I wanted to stop and just give up. Yet I’m still going, thanks in large part because of two individuals, Jordan Hale and Janicanne Shane. Both have had a profound impact on my Duke career and development as a person.

I met them early on in my freshman year. It was probably around late September 2009. Though my acquaintance with both came through my involvement in Duke University Union, they each impacted me in unique capacities.