Robertson Scholars create a powerful community capable of achieving more than the sum of its parts.
Robertson Scholars represent the best and brightest students from the United States and abroad. Although they are diverse in their interests, backgrounds and perspectives, they form a collection of individuals who are intellectually curious, committed to service, and adventurous in spirit. When this group of individuals comes together to form a community, great things happen.
The program cares about facilitating community. Thus, the scholar community comes together regularly for formal and informal, planned and spontaneous gatherings. Some scholar favorites are the first-year scholar retreat, monthly community dinners, and "Dinners for Eight."
First-Year Scholar NOLS Retreat
Each scholar class begins its journey with a five-day leadership retreat at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Bryson City, North Carolina, held the week before the fall semester begins. Led by the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS), this retreat allows incoming first-year students to bond and begin to evaluate their leadership style, capacities, and challenges.
Community Dinners
During their first semester, first-year scholars attend a monthly dinner series that features speakers and discussions oriented around themes relevant to Robertson Scholars themselves and to the program. Speakers such as UNC-Chapel Hill's Chancellor, Duke's President, and distinguished professors and community leaders lead the group in discussing issues of importance to the universities and the surrounding communities. These monthly dinners give scholars from both campuses the opportunity to be part of these conversations and connect with each other.
"Dinners for Eight"
Scholars also have the opportunity to choose the theme of the discussion. In the program's ongoing "Dinners for Eight" series, any Robertson Scholar may apply to invite a guest of interest to participate in an intimate dinner engagement and in-depth conversation. The first seven scholars to sign-up become the dinner party, and the initiating scholar takes responsibility for planning and leading the event.
Shared Coursework
First-Year Robertson Colloquium: In the second semester, all first-year Scholars on both campuses participate in the Robertson Colloquium. This course, which alternates meeting at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, is taught by the Robertson Scholars Program President Tony Brown. The Robertson Colloquium seeks to strengthen the ties among first-year scholars while exploring the field of social entrepreneurship and how scholars make a difference in their community.
Senior Capstone: In their last semester on campus, senior Robertson Scholars at both universities participate in the Senior Capstone, also taught by Tony Brown, President of the Robertson Scholars Program. The course focuses on leadership, ethics, and the role that graduating scholars will play in shaping the world as they leave college and move on to future challenges.
