Eight Students Named As University Scholars

Eight high school graduates from eight states have been named winners of prestigious University Scholarships at Duke University.

The University Scholars Program was created in 1998 with a gift from Duke Trustee Melinda French Gates and her husband Bill Gates, through the William H. Gates Foundation. The program is designed to stimulate an interdisciplinary, intergenerational community of scholars.

The undergraduate University Scholars were selected for their ability to explore new horizons. They represent a range of personal and intellectual backgrounds and share an excitement for original research, collaborative thinking and innovative scholarship. The awards cover full tuition. Based on estimated tuition rates, this scholarship is worth more than $100,000 to a student enrolled for four years.

The new University Scholars are:

Joyce Elizabeth Coppock of Chicago, a graduate of The Latin School of Chicago and the daughter of Evelyn Spanski and James Coppock. She is a National Merit semifinalist, was elected to the national Chinese Honor Society, is president of SAAP Environmental Awareness and Activism Organization and was the 2000 co-captain of Latin's volleyball team. Coppock has done independent research on the behavior of Bolivian Gray Titi monkeys and is most interested in biology, engineering and physics.

Emily B. LaDue of Levittown, N.Y., a graduate of Gen. Douglas MacArthur High School and the daughter of Louise Chiddo and William LaDue. She is a member of the MacArthur High School French Honor Society, president of the National Honor Society and is the captain of the lacrosse, cross country and winter track teams. LaDue is a school peer leader, participates in the Hugh O'Brien Youth Leadership organization and organized an event to benefit World Trade Center victims' families. Her academic interests include law and psychiatry.

Yi Li of Fort Dodge, Iowa, a graduate of Fort Dodge High School and the daughter of Xueyan and Wumin Li. She is a member of the National Council on Youth Leadership, National Honor Society and was head delegate during her school's participation in the Model United Nations. Li has volunteered at the Trinity Regional Medical Center, a local retirement home and at the Special Olympics. Her academic interest is biomedical engineering.

Samuel Morgan Kidder of Poulsbo, Wash., a graduate of Bainbridge High School and the son of Deborah and Richard Kidder. He was a National Merit semifinalist, Science Student of the Year, president of the National Honor Society and French Club and a member of the Knowledge Bowl. His academic interests are economics, public policy and political science.

Michael Wilson McGahan of Gardiner, Mont., a graduate of Li Po Chun United World College in Hong Kong and the son of Diana and Thomas McGahan. McGahan was the recipient of the Davis Scholarship to the United World College and qualified for Orchestra All-State, World Debate Championship and the 1999 and 2000 all-district math team and was chief editor of the school newspaper. McGahan, a member of the debate team and squash/racquetball team, is interested in electrical engineering, engineering, mechanical engineering and physics.

Ilya Aleksandrovich Voytov of Raleigh, N.C., a graduate of Ravenscroft School and the son of Tatyana and Aleksandr Voytov. He has won a gold medal at the USA Ballroom Dancing Championship and a silver medal at the Heritage Classic Dancesport Championship. He was president of the Ravenscroft Investment Club for three years. While in high school, Voytov assisted hospital researchers in searching for a cure for a rare skin disease, created a database that sped up the retrieval and storage of blood serum at the hospital and organized and attended a Federal Reserve System-sponsored economics competition. His academic interest is economics.

Huanjie Wang of Richardson, Texas, a graduate of LV Berkner High School and the son of Yu and Yang Wang. During high school, he was student representative of the math department, president of the Computer Networking Club, president of Topoisomerase Academic and won a silver medal in the National Youth Science Fair of China. Wang, who was also editor-in-chief of the school magazine, is interested in mathematics, economics and psychology.

Venis Tiara Wilder of Plantation, Fla., a graduate of Western High School and the daughter of Sandra and Vernon Wilder. During high school, she was the president and senator for the Student Government Association, vice president of National Honor Society, captain of the varsity cheerleading squad and a volunteer for Hospice Care of South Florida. Wilder, a Duke Talent Identification Summer Program participant, also won the Principal's Leadership Award and the McDonald's Black History Makers Scholarship. Her academic interests include genomic sciences, politics and biology.

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