It’s definitely a trend. Duke students just keep getting smarter. The Class of 2006 was the most selective and academically qualified in university history. It also marked the second year in a row in which one-third of the class is made up of students of color, and the third consecutive year in which more than 10 percent of the class is African-American. The class contains a record number of children of alumni, as well as students from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. This was the first year that Duke offered financial aid to international students, which resulted in nearly a 70 percent increase over the prior year’s applications from international students—and yielded a measurable increase in the academic quality of admitted international students.

Honors:
Two Duke seniors were among the 32 recipients of Rhodes Scholarships in 2002. Dave Chokshi of Baton Rouge, La., a double major in chemistry and public policy studies, and Jacob Foster of Winchester, Va., a physics major, were chosen from among 981 applicants at 341 colleges and universities throughout the country.

Eighteen Duke students received 2003-2004 Fulbright Scholarships:
Lauren Beaty, Namibia; Helen Chu, Tanzania; Michael Ennis, Mexico; George Freeman, Australia; Jessica Hardesty, Ecuador; Susie Heo, Philippines; Christina Hsu, China; Molly Jacobs, Germany; Jeffrey Mangel, Peru; Linda Rupert, Netherlands; S. Silvermoon, Mexico; Justin Su, Taiwan; Kalyan Vepuri, Canada; Daniel Vorhaus, United Kingdom; Melanie Wood, United Kingdom; Erin Yerby, Austria; Stephen Huey, Germany; Damien Vasallo, Germany. Vorhaus and Wood received two of the only 20 UK Fulbright grants, for which well over 500 applications were submitted.

Melanie Wood, a senior from Indianapolis, Ind. with a long list of academic honors to her name, received a Gates Cambridge Scholarship given to scholars of outstanding academic merit and leadership potential from every country of the world other than the United Kingdom. Gates Cambridge Scholars are expected to become leaders in addressing global problems relating to learning, technology, health and social equity. The scholars are thus expected to use their education for the benefit of others and to show commitment to improving the common weal.

Four Duke students with a record of success in undergraduate research have won Barry M. Goldwater Scholarships, which recognize excellence in science, mathematics and engineering. This year’s recipients are junior Ethan D. Eade of Timonium, Md.; junior Lauren M. Childs of Medford, N.J.; sophomore Margaret J. Wat of Chapel Hill, N.C.; and junior Linda Zhang of Nashville, Tenn. Since the awards began about 15 years ago, 52 Duke students have received the honor, which provides up to $7,500 a year toward tuition and other college expenses.