The Log | School News

Rich, Dollar Receive University Awards

Simon B.Rich Jr.T’67, chairman of the board of visitors of the Nicholas School,was presented the 2004 Charles A. Dukes Award for Outstanding Service to Duke University at the university’s Founder’s Day ceremony in the fall. The award recognizes individuals who have tirelessly volunteered their time and expertise to help the university and its students.

Rich was cited not only for his leadership as chair of the board, but also for his commitment to the education of the school’s students and their future careers.

Last year, he voluntarily initiated, planned and taught a course, “Energy and the Environment.” In the class, which he is teaching again this year, Rich draws upon his professional expertise and experience as former chairman of Louis Dreyfus Natural Gas. To augment his own expertise, he brings in other executives from the energy industry as guest speakers, and each year leads his students on a field trip to Houston, Texas, where they meet with managers and scientists from many of the nation’s top energy companies.

Luke Dollar, an ecology doctoral student in the Nicholas School, received The Duke Humanitarian Service Award, sponsored by Duke Religious Life, during the Founder’s Day ceremony.

The award is given annually to an individual whose life demonstrates a long-term commitment to direct and personal service to others and simplicity of lifestyle. This award was first conceived by a group of Duke Campus ministers, faculty and students who felt that such exemplary lives might serve as challenging role models for Duke students as they considered the moral implications of their chosen vocation and lifestyle.

Dollar was recognized for his work in Madagascar, where he studies the elusive fossa, with the long-term goal of employing the Malagasy people to understand and manage their own resources.

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