LAHS News:

Thirty high school graduates have accepted invitations to become Robertson Scholars, receiving undergraduate merit scholarships to attend either Duke University or the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Alexandra Hehlen, who will graduate from Los Alamos High School this month, is one of these students. She will attend UNC.

This year’s class hails from 17 states and six different countries, representing a plethora of backgrounds and global views.

The Robertson Scholars Leadership Program invests in young leaders who strive to make transformational contributions to society. Scholars are selected based on students’ demonstration of outstanding academic achievement, intellectual curiosity, force of moral character, purposeful leadership, and collaborative spirit.

The Robertson Program’s financial benefits include full tuition, room and board, and mandatory fees for four years of undergraduate study, in addition to three summers of domestic and international experiences.

Robertson Scholars enroll at one university while receiving student privileges at both Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill, including opportunities to pursue second majors and minors, enroll in courses and participate in student activities. During the academic year, the Robertson Program provides customized offerings designed to enable Scholars to realize their full leadership potential.

The Robertson Program was created in 2000 through a $24 million gift from Julian Robertson, a 1955 graduate of UNC, and his wife, Josie. Inspired by their sons, one of whom graduated from Duke in 1998 and another from UNC in 2001, the Robertsons believed that each institution offered a distinctive undergraduate experience, but that the combination of the two promised a breadth and depth of resources that no other university could match.

The Robertson alumni network consists of approximately 300 leaders on six continents, linked together by a common goal to make positive and palpable contributions to their communities.