Chelsea Koglmeier ’12 is one of seven U.S. college or university students to be selected as Venture for America fellow for 2012. A 2009 DukeEngage participant, Chelsea completed a microfinance-based independent project through DukeEngage in 2009, in Kampala, Uganda, where she also raised more than $5,000 to fund the schooling of children in the Acholi Quarter. A public policy major, she is president of Duke’s Triathlon Team and a a member of the DukeEngage Student Advisory Committee as well as Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. Venture for America recruits college graduates to work for two years at emerging start-ups and early-stage companies in lower-cost cities. Modeled after Teach for America, Venture for America provides a path for entrepreneurship to college graduates who want to learn how to build companies and create jobs. Venture for American bases its selections on intellectual ability, accomplishment, demonstrated leadership and initiative, communication and interpersonal skills, and mission-orientation.
Joy Liu, DukeEngage '11, served as an intern at the non-profit East Villagers. A participant in the 2011 Muhuru Bay, Kenya (WISER) program, Joy says, "East Villagers is an organization that I've dedicated about a year to now. I was part of the inaugural class of interns and really gained valuable experience seeing my idea turned into action with the 2011 East Villagers Service Conference, which brought 30+ nonprofits and speakers and had 500+ unique hits on the web. The experience, as well as my time at DukeEngage, has made me realize my desire to engage other students in service. Although I'm now wrapping up my internship with East Villagers, there's another new beginning for me. During my time in Kenya, one of the most important lessons I learned was related to the role of HIV/AIDS and how it is so interconnected to the many factors that characterize health disparities. For that reason, I want to bring FACE AIDS to Duke's campus in some way, shape, or form and hopefully get some of my peers to think about those issues as well."
Alice Mao, DukeEngage '10, an alumna of the DukeEngage in Beijing, China, program, was the 2011 winner of Duke's prestigious Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. The honor is given annually to a graduating senior who demonstrates excellence in service, character and spirituality. Alice took part in one of DukeEngage's longest-running programs at the Dandelion School located on the outskirts of Beijing, China. There, students work with children of migrant workers who have moved from rural areas of China to Beijing looking for work. Learn more about the DukeEngage Beijing program.
Jessica Shuen, DukeEngage '08 received a Fulbright Research Grant to pursue a project in Medellín, Colombia, where her DukeEngage experience took place. There, she will coordinate an education outreach project with a research component that focuses on elementary school girls' science education curriculum. Says Shuen, "Regardless of the language spoken or the cultural upbringing of children, they are universally open to learning anything that interests them." Shuen plans to attend medical school following the completion of her Fulbright project.
Andrew Simon, DukeEngage '07 earned a fellowship to study Arabic in Cairo, Egypt, through the Center for Arabic Study Abroad. He eventually hopes to enroll in a Ph.D. program in Near Eastern Studies. Says Simon, who completed a DukeEngage experience in Yemen, "My experience as a DukeEngage participant opened my eyes to the world beyond the classroom."