Duke University has received $15 million from the A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation to establish an undergraduate program focused on service, and business and entrepreneurship at the Pratt School of Engineering, President Vincent E. Price has announced.
“Duke University offers a transformative undergraduate experience, and the Clark Scholars program will help us open the doors even wider to those opportunities,” Price said. “We are enormously grateful for this gift, which will advance our broader commitments to create global leaders in technological and scientific discovery.”
The Clark Scholars program honors the legacy and values of the late A. James Clark, a noted engineer, businessman and philanthropist who never forgot that his business successes began with an engineering scholarship at the University of Maryland.
Clark Scholars at Duke will participate in dedicated service-learning experiences, business courses and leadership training, as well as one-on-one mentorship and enrichment seminars throughout their four years. They will also learn how to translate their ideas into meaningful impact through coursework and a focused summer program in entrepreneurship and management.
“Technology is profoundly changing the world, and engineering leaders with business savvy and entrepreneurial mindsets will undoubtedly shape our future,” said Ravi V. Bellamkonda, Vinik Dean of Engineering at Duke.
Ten Clark Scholars will be selected each year based on financial need, academic accomplishments, engagement in engineering and leadership skills. They will receive support over four years to help offset loans, work-study and summer earnings requirements, allowing them greater freedom to participate in unpaid service, extracurricular and internship opportunities.
The first cohort of scholarship recipients will be selected from the Class of 2022. Duke University will become the 10th Clark Scholars campus, joining The George Washington University, Georgia Tech, Johns Hopkins University, The University of Maryland, University of Pennsylvania, Stevens Institute of Technology, Vanderbilt University, The University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
