2024 Forever Duke Leadership Awards Celebrate Student Changemakers
Duke Alumni Engagement and Development (AED) to honor 30 students for their leadership and service to the university at the Washington Duke, April 25th.
A co-founder of a student and alumni media network, an advocate for students entering the job market and a leader fostering community both on campus and off campus were among the students recognized as 2024 Forever Duke Leadership awardees.
Given annually by Duke Alumni Engagement and Development, the award recognizes graduating students from across Duke’s 10 undergraduate, graduate and professional schools for their “Forever Duke” spirit and leadership within the Duke community.
“These students embody the “Forever Duke” spirit and values in their services.” Sara Stevens, assistant director of graduate and professional schools at AED, says. “Not only are they advocates for their community but are leaders leaving Duke a better place than they found it.”
Some of the following Duke student highlights:
Lily Annenberg ’24 co-founded the Duke Creator Lab, a space that unites student entrepreneurs with entertainment industry alumni. Annenberg, the director of programming, hosted speaker series and events, even collaborating with Duke Entertainment, Media & Arts Network (DEMAN) to blend learning with networking. More than 65 members later, her work continues to grow and strengthen their community to thrive in any creative industry.
Leah Benn Miller M.Div.’24 served in various positions for Duke’s Divinity Student Council, including interning internationally across Africa and Asia. On campus, Benn Miller has worked closely with Housing and Residence Life. She has fostered community by reviving pre-pandemic traditions such as “Sunday Sundae,” which brings students together for a weekly ice cream social.
Nicholas Biondo B.S.N.’24 is president for the Duke University Chapter of the American Association for Men in Nursing. Biondo hosted multiple volunteer and social events such as nursing student mixers, tours at Duke Flight Life’s medical helicopter operations base and educational nursing seminars for students in the Alamance-Burlington school system. Biondo is excited to continue supporting Duke as an alumnus.
Jack Parker B.S.E.’24 created a portfolio of job-centered resources for fellow students—from networking events and career fairs to websites and job search strategies. He realized his professional journey could help future students. Now, Parker collaborates with Duke’s Career Center to build professional resources for Duke students about to enter the work force.
The full list of awardees are as follows:
Lily Annenberg ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Layla Arty ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Danica Bajaj ’25, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Navya Belavadi ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Leah Benn Miller B.D.’24, Divinity School
Nicholas Biondo B.S.N’24, School of Nursing
Joshua Crittenden A.M.’23, The Graduate School
Julia Davis ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Anna Demelo B.S.E.’24, Pratt School of Engineering
Nathan Drapela A.M.’24, The Graduate School
Catherine Ehrhart M.D.’24, School of Medicine
Brittany Forniotis A.M.’24, The Graduate School
Brittany Gabriel M.P.P.’24, Sanford School of Public Policy
Casey Goldstein ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Bonnie Hepler B.S.N.’24, School of Nursing
Aden Klein M.P.P.’24, Sanford School of Public Policy
Advika Kumar ’24, Duke Global Health Institute
Neelan Kumar ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Jessica Lalonde A.M.’24, The Graduate School
Elyse McFalls ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Jessica On ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
SaeHim Park A.M.’24, The Graduate School
Jack Parker B.S.E.’24, Pratt School of Engineering
Meredith Schmehl A.M.’24, The Graduate School
Robert Sprung ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Jessica Sue-Kam-Ling Lewis ’24, Trinity College of Arts and Sciences
Jonathan Van Dongen M.B.A.’24, Fuqua School of Business
