Blake Cegelka
Economics, Earth and Climate Science, CompSci Minor
Class of 2027
Hi! I am from Lexington, Kentucky. When free, I love to spend time with my friends and family, play soccer or baseball, and go on walks. I am currently involved with the Duke Energy Club, Club Baseball, as well as being a tour guide. I have always wanted to go to Australia since I was little (I have the Australian flag hung up in my room), so am excited for the opportunity to travel!
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Erin Chen
Environmental Science
Class of 2027
Hi everyone! I am from Asheville, North Carolina. At Duke, I am a part of the political committee of Asian Student Association (ASA) and Operation Climate. I am also working as a research assistant at the Bernhardt Lab. In my free time, I enjoy cooking, baking, and rock climbing. I am super excited to explore the unique ecosystems of Australia. I can’t wait to meet everyone.
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Anne Dillon
Environmental Science and Public Policy
Class of 2027
Hi! I’m so excited to go on Duke in Australia this summer. I’m a freshman from LaGrange, Illinois, a suburb 20 minutes outside Chicago. I love hiking, scuba-diving, playing soccer, traveling and learning new languages. Australia has always been a life-long dream of mine. I’m most excited to meet people from the other side of the world, see unique wildlife and geography, and explore the Great Barrier Reef!
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Kibir Elias
Biology
Class of 2026
Hi! I’m from Maryland, so I’m not all that far from Durham. I’m not in too many clubs, but I am a DJ at WXDU, which is the radio station at Duke, as well as a member of Cru and ENC, both of which are Christian organizations on campus. In my free time, you’re most likely going to find me watching YouTube or playing music, to be honest. I have been getting back into reading books, though, so I’m very happy to take any suggestions to help me get a foot in the door. Anyways, I’m looking forward to our time in Australia and spending time with everyone, too! See you then!
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Grace Huber
Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science
Class of 2026
Hello! I’m a rising junior at Duke studying Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science. In my (limited) free time during the school year, I love working with Duke Outdoor Adventures — both at the Wilson climbing wall and leading trips to help our community explore North Carolina. Back home in Tahoe, California, I enjoy backcountry adventures with my dog, switching between backpacking and ski touring depending on the season, as well as cooking. I’ve never been to Australia before, so I’m incredibly excited to experience it through this program!
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Omar Jamal
Biology, Pre-Med, Minor in Arabic
Class of 2027
Hello friends! I was born in Baghdad, Iraq, and moved to the States when I was about 4. I have lived in Cary, North Carolina since 2010 and love the beautiful nature and weather we have here. Since watching the Wild Kratts, as a kid, I became fascinated with animals and the natural world, especially the unique flora and fauna on the Australian continent. In high school I was president of the environmental club and loved to put together events like volunteering at the Carolina Tiger Rescue and Greenway hikes/cleanups. During my Freshman year at Duke, I worked at a genetics lab studying neural tube defects and epigenetics of adolescent concussions, worked at a medical office as a medical assistant, been a part of MSA, One For All, and Root Causes. I am super excited to have this once in a lifetime opportunity to explore a continent on the other side of the globe and meet some new people!
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Ava Kocher
Biology and Marine Science and Conservation
Class of 2027
Hi! I’m Ava, a freshman from Massachusetts, and I love all things nature. I love to paint, read, and go on adventures big and small. At Duke, you can find me in the Gardens, working at the Lemur Center, biking around Durham, or exploring the Eno. You can count on me to be enthusiastic in all weather conditions, to stop on trail to take a closer look at something cool, and to somehow convince you that you do want to cold plunge in the ocean with me right now. I’m SO excited to explore Australia and immerse myself in all the ecologies we’re lucky enough to get to see.
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Isabelle Kuehn
Environmental Engineering
Class of 2025
Hi! I’m Isabelle Kuehn, a rising senior from Durham, NC. At Duke, I am a member of Poetea (@dukepoetea) and ASCE. Outside of school, I am most likely reading or watching movies, going on a run, or drinking copious amounts of coffee. I’m looking forward to getting some distance from home and going to another country for the first time!! Summers with my family have been spent seeing National Parks in Utah, Arizona, Minnesota, and back home in North Carlina, which sparked my love for the outdoors. I am SO excited to explore the biodiversity and ecology of somewhere completely unfamiliar. As someone very invested in environmental issues, discussions about sustainability and climate change will be especially interesting. While I love my world of midnight Cook-Out runs and movie nights, I can’t wait to be in Australia this summer!
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Joshua Levy
Biology, Minors in Geosciences and Music
Class of 2027
Hi! I am currently a freshman at Tufts University. I am from Rye Brook, New York, and I am excited about the program! I want to study evolutionary biology and ecology, so I am very excited to see the diversity of wildlife that Australia has to offer. I want to go into academia for something, but I’m unsure if I want to work with fossils or live animals. In my freetime, I love watching TV, playing video games, and hanging out with friends. Besides my studies, I am also a cellist in the university orchestra, drummer in the pep band, treasurer of the Gaming Hub, and a board member of the Geological Society. In addition, I am a member of Model UN and the pre-vet society. I work as a seasonal associate for the Bronx Zoo, where I work with the animals in the children’s zoo butterfly garden and other exhibits such as the budgie landing. I am so excited to meet you all this summer!
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Diego Lopez-Robles
Biology, Minor in Chemistry
Class of 2027
Hey y’all! I’m a junior from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. I intend to pursue research biology/chemistry in graduate school (don’t know what specifically yet). I’ve had a lot of fun this semester being the Publicity chair for both Mi Gente and Define America which means 9 times out of 10, I’m either making a flyer or a TikTok. Whenever I have free time though, I love to just put my headphones on and listen to new music, learn the songs I love on guitar or piano, and hang out with/take pictures of my friends! I’m so excited for the opportunity to explore the nature of Australia this summer and go on adventures just like my namesake, Go Diego Go!
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Jorge Mato-Frontela, October 12th, 2022
Jorge Mato Frontela
Biology, Minor in Computational Biology
Class of 2026
Hey! My name is Jorge Mato. I am excited to participate in Duke in Australia 2024. I was born in Havana, Cuba, and moved to Charlotte, NC, in 2021. Despite my focus on the chemical parts of biology, I am very interested in environmental policy and how it can be applied to better protect biodiversity and ecosystems when human economic activities could damage them. Specifically, coming from a country where tourism is a big thing, I am concerned about how tourism causes damage to urban and rural areas, as well as their biodiversity and ecosystems. I can’t wait to visit Australia this summer. My top three things on this trip are snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, visiting the Rain Forest, and going on the Darwin Walk. When I am not in class, I am usually at WU (because I like being near food all the time :)), the gym, and the Duke Gardens. My largest commitments are dancing with the Sabrosura Dance Club, working at the Medical Genetics department, and tutoring Chemistry. I also keep myself updated about the Triangle’s salsa dance scene and love going social dancing on the second Friday of every month in Carmen’s Cuban Cafe. I may or may not explore the dancing scene in Sydney too. I have a dog named Brownie that we rescued from a shelter. She is lovely, and when I visit my family in Charlotte, she always pulls my hand with her paw so I can pet her. I am thrilled to go to Australia this summer and learn about its unique biological diversity, fantastic landscape, and the “Aussieway.” See y’all in Australia!!!
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Taylor Moss
Public Policy and Global Health
Class of 2027
Hi guys! I can’t emphasize enough just how excited I am for Australia! I’m from Franklin, North Carolina, so growing up in the mountains has definitely shaped my love for the outdoors. I’m super interested in the impact that environmental factors have on human health and well-being. In fact, before heading to Australia, I’ll be working in Yellowstone with an environmental conservation organization this summer! On campus, I’m involved in DSG, Special Olympics, and the Outing Club. When I’m not doing these things, my favorite hobbies are hiking, curating my ongoing spreadsheet of movie rankings, sitting in my hammock, or documenting day-to-day life via my camcorder (yes, I will be bringing it on the trip)! I can’t wait to meet all of you and explore Australia together!
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Hayley Navarro
Biology, PreVet, Minor in Marine Science and Conservation
Class of 2027
Hi! I’m from Denham Springs, Louisiana just outside of Baton Rouge. Some of my favorite hobbies include horse-back riding, fishing, and hanging out with friends. I grew up visiting the coast at home, and I’ve lived on a small family farm for most of my life. At Duke I am involved in the Duke University Equestrian Team (DUET) club, and I work with Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD) affected dogs through Duke Pediatrics. I absolutely love everything animals and nature and I can’t wait to travel to Australia and see what a beautiful and diverse country it is in person!
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Alyssa Ramirez
Biomedical Engineering
Class of 2026
Hi!! I’m from El Paso, Texas. I’ve been on multiple road trips across the country, but I’ve never been out of the country, so I am very excited to travel across Australia this summer. I can’t wait to see and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef and take so many hikes and beach walks that my feet hurt. On campus, I am the Director of Social Engagement for SHPE, and a member of Theta Tau, Delta Gamma, Brownstone, and SWE. I also work as an EGR 101 TA and a Pratt Tour Guide. On my free time I LOVE to read fantasy novels, bake, listen to music, dance like no one is watching, and explore new parts of Duke and Durham. I can’t wait to explore Australia and make great memories with the other students on this trip.
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Ryan Rowell
Mechanical Engineering
Class of 2027
Hi! I am a freshman from Minneapolis, Minnesota. At home my favorite sport is Nordic Skiing, but here I spend that energy playing Ultimate Frisbee on the Duke Club team. My team nickname is “Yap” and I’ve earned it well. I enjoy running and lifting, especially with other people. I love the outdoors, especially backpacking. Nature is my favorite way to find peace and awe in my life. I’d have to say my biggest red flag is wearing my chacos at marketplace. You can also find me at a variety of Christian groups on campus such as RUF and Cru. My favorite things always include eating, exercising, being in nature, and having long conversations. If you have that, count me in!
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Lexi Schaffer
Earth and Climate Sciences
Class of 2027
Hey everyone! My name is Lexi, and I am so excited to meet all of you and travel to Australia together! I grew up surrounded by nature in the forests near my home in
Croton-on-Hudson, New York, and I have always been passionate about exploring and helping the Earth. As I got older and learned about global issues such as climate change, I continued to explore the misty trails and lakes teeming with life around my hometown while resolving to help both the natural world and the people living on this planet we call home. These interests have led me to plan to study Earth & Climate Sciences, and I am also curious about Biology and Environmental Sciences. I love anything and everything outdoors, so in my free time you can find me running, hiking, exploring, or just spending some time in the sun and fresh air. I also enjoy going on adventures with friends, reading fantasy and science fiction books, and singing. I can’t wait to learn about the fascinating plants, animals, and landscapes of Australia, experiencing first-hand the natural wonders that I’ve only read and dreamt about (the Cathedral Fig Tree seems incredible), while making new friends along the way!
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Holly Wilcox
Biology and Minor in Art
Class of 2027
Hello! My name is Holly and I am from North Carolina. I am very excited to explore Australia’s ecosystems this summer! I lived in Australia for about a year when I was a kid and fell in love with its flora and fauna. Australia’s wildlife inspired me to pursue a career in ecology, and so I am excited to continue learning about this ecosystem during our trip. I have done several environmental projects in the past, such as building birdwatching nature trails. I love being outdoors, so I am greatly looking forward to this program!
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Ryan Yu
Economics and Statistics
Class of 2027
What’s up everyone! My name is Ryan Yu and I’m from Long Island, New York. Some of my hobbies at Duke include skiing (Duke Club Ski), watching sports, and eating good food. I’ve always loved to travel and explore new places; with some of my favorite trips being Iceland and the Alps. I actually witnessed a live volcano eruption in Iceland during the summer of 2022! I am super excited to visit Australia for the first time and I am looking forward to explore the diverse landscapes of one of the coolest places on the planet.
