2024 Award Recipients

Centennial Lifetime achievement Award

Myrna Adams
Myrna C. Adams, J.D.

Organizational consultant, inaugural vice president for institutional equity at Duke and founding member of the Samuel DuBois Cook Society.

Distinguished Service Award

Wilson-Hartgrove
Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove

Spiritual writer, preacher, and community cultivator.

Assistant Director for Partnerships and Fellowships at Yale University’s Center for Public Theology and Public Policy

Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award

Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery
Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery

Dean of Duke University Chapel and Professor of Homiletics and African and African American Studies

Samuel DuBois Cook Society Staff Award

Hughes headshot
Jasmine Hughes

Duke Pre-College instructor; member of the Racial Equity Advisory Council

Samuel DuBois Cook Society Graduate Student Award

Catherine Denning-Jannace
Catherine A. Denning-Jannace, Ph.D.

Post-doctoral Fellow in the Duke Department of Chemistry

Samuel DuBois Cook Society Undergraduate Student Award

Isaiah Hamilton
Isaiah Hamilton

2023-24 Duke Student Government president; Black Student Alliance past president; Secretary, Alpha Alpha Chi Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.

Cook Awards Recipients Going Back to 1998

Pictured from left: Kim Hewitt, Vice President for Institutional Equity; Kansi Udochukwu (Samuel DuBois Cook Society Undergraduate Student Award); Brigit Maria Carter (Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award); Mrs. Sylvia Cook; Kamillah Jena Kassam (Samuel DuBois Cook Society Graduate Student Award); Eunice Sanders, sister of Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal (Distinguished Service Award); Lisa Davis (Samuel DuBois Cook Society Staff Award). Photo by HuthPhoto
Pictured from left: Kim Hewitt, Vice President for Institutional Equity; Kansi Udochukwu (Samuel DuBois Cook Society Undergraduate Student Award); Brigit Maria Carter (Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award); Mrs. Sylvia Cook; Kamillah Jena Kassam (Samuel DuBois Cook Society Graduate Student Award); Eunice Sanders, sister of Durham Mayor Elaine O’Neal (Distinguished Service Award); Lisa Davis (Samuel DuBois Cook Society Staff Award). Photo by HuthPhoto
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2023 Cook Society Award Recipients

  • Brigit Carter, Ph.D., M.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N., Professor and Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion in the Duke School of Nursing​Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Lisa P. Davis, Ph.D., M.S.P.H., Research Program Leader for the Duke Clinical & Translational Science Institute, Samuel DuBois Cook Society Staff Award
  • Kamillah Jena Kassam, Doctoral Candidate in the Duke Department of Chemistry, Samuel DuBois Cook Society Graduate Student Award
  • Elaine M. O'Neal, J.D., Mayor of the City of Durham, Distinguished Service Award
  • Kansi Udochukwu, Duke Department of History, President of Duke Africa, member of the President's Council on Black Affairs at Duke University, Samuel DuBois Cook Society Undergraduate Student Award

 

Top row L-R: Dorian Bolden, William A. Darity, Jr.; Bottom row L-R: Annise Weaver, Briana Davis, and Alexis Joseph.
2022 Cook Society Award winners, top row L-R: Dorian Bolden, William A. Darity, Jr.; Bottom row L-R: Annise Weaver, Briana Davis, and Alexis Joseph.
  • Dorian Bolden, Owner of Beyu Caffé and community activist for food justice: Distinguished Service Award
  • William A. Darity Jr., Ph.D., Samuel DuBois Cook Professor of Public Policy, African and African American Studies, and Economics Founding Director, Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity: Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Annise Weaver, M.S.Ed., C.R.C., Associate Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Duke Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences: Samuel DuBois Cook Society Staff Award
  • Briana Davis, Ph.D. Student, Duke Molecular Genetics and Microbiology: Samuel DuBois Cook Society Graduate Student Award
  • Alexis Joseph, Class of 2020, Co-President of the Duke United Black Athletes: Samuel DuBois Cook Society Undergraduate Student Award

To protect the health and safety of the community, the Samuel DuBois Cook Society 2022 Awards Ceremony was switched to a virtual "hybrid" format with some award recipients, select family, friends, and Duke community members in attendance at the Washington Duke Inn, while community members who purchased tickets and enjoyed the event via Zoom, which included a full "to-go" meal catered by the Washington Duke Inn.

Read the Duke Today article: Five Honored by Cook Society for Service to Duke and Durham

2021 Cook Society Award winners, clockwise from top left: Charles Becton, De’Ja Wood, Michael Cary Jr., Nolan Smith, Tom Bonfield, Ajenai Clemmons, and Richard Powell.
2021 Cook Society Award winners, clockwise from top left: Charles Becton, De’Ja Wood, Michael Cary Jr., Nolan Smith, Tom Bonfield, Ajenai Clemmons, and Richard Powell.
  • Charles L. Becton, Former Judge North Carolina Court of Appeals: Distinguished Service Award
  • Thomas J. "Tom" Bonfield, Former Durham City Manager: Special Recognition Service Award Winner
  • Michael Paul Cary Jr., Ph.D., Associate Professor in the School of Nursing: Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Nolan Smith, Former Director of Basketball Operations and Player Development Duke Men's Basketball: Samuel DuBois Cook Society Staff Award
  • Ajenai Clemmons, Ph.D. Candidate Sanford School of Public Policy: Samuel DuBois Cook Society Graduate Student Award
  • De'Ja Wood, Class of 2021: Samuel DuBois Cook Society Undergraduate Student Award

The 2021 awards ceremony was held virtually due to the pandemic. View the video recording of the ceremony here.

Read the Duke Today article: Seven Honored by Cook Society for Service to Duke and the Wider Community

L-R: Zoila Airall, President Vincent Price, NC Sen. "Mickey" Michaux, Barbara Stokes, Ashleigh Smith, Charmaine Royal, Hala El-Nahal, Alyson Diaz, and Margaret (Margie) Muir (EDI winner). Not pictured: Sherilynn Black (EDI winner). Photo: Huth Photo
L-R: Zoila Airall, President Vincent Price, NC Sen. "Mickey" Michaux, Barbara Stokes, Ashleigh Smith, Charmaine Royal, Hala El-Nahal, Alyson Diaz, and Margaret (Margie) Muir (EDI winner). Not pictured: Sherilynn Black (EDI winner). Huth Photo
  • Henry McKinley "Mickey" Michaux, Jr.: Distinguished Service Award
  • Charmaine Royal: Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Zoila Airall: Sammie Award
  • Alyson Diaz: Sammie Award
  • Hala El-Nahal: Sammie Award
  • Ashleigh Smith: Sammie Award
  • Barbara Stokes: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Cook Society Honors Lives Led in Service at Duke and in the Community

L-R: Vincent Price, E'Vonne Coleman, Corey Pilson, Adriane Lentz-Smith, Benjamin Reese, Pamela Montgomery, Onye Emmanuel Akwari (seated), Felix Odilli Nwogbo Jr., Dionna Monique Gamble, and Syliva F. Cook. | Huth Photo
L-R: Vincent Price, E'Vonne Coleman, Corey Pilson, Adriane Lentz-Smith, Benjamin Reese, Pamela Montgomery, Onye Emmanuel Akwari (seated), Felix Odilli Nwogbo Jr., Dionna Monique Gamble, and Syliva F. Cook. Huth Photo
  • E'Vonne Coleman: Distinguished Service Award
  • Onye Emmanuel Akwari: Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Adriane Lentz-Smith: Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Dionna Monique Gamble: Sammie Award
  • Felix Odili Nwogbo, Jr.: Sammie Award
  • Pamela Montgomery: Sammie Award
  • Corey Pilson: Sammie Award
  • Benjamin D. Reese, Jr., Special Recognition

Read the Duke Today article: Cook Society Honors Leaders Building a More Inclusive Campus

L-R: Felicia Tittle, Andrea Harris, Rev. Willliam Turner Jr., Michael J. Ivory Jr., Debra Brandon, and Danielle Purifoy
L-R: Felicia Tittle, Andrea Harris, Rev. Willliam Turner Jr., Michael J. Ivory Jr., Debra Brandon, and Danielle Purifoy
  • Andrea Harris: Distinguished Service Award
  • Debra Brandon: Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Felicia Tittle: Sammie Award
  • Danielle Purifoy: Sammie Award
  • Michael Ivory, Jr.: Sammie Award
  • William Turner, Jr.: Special Recognition

Read the Duke Today article: Six Honored by Cook Society for Leadership & Community Activism

L-R: David Malone, Richard Brodhead, Juan Ramirez, Jr., Henry Washnington, Jr., Edward Gomes, Wahneema Lubiano, and Leonidas Nelson, Jr.
L-R: David Malone, Richard Brodhead, Juan Ramirez, Jr., Henry Washnington, Jr., Edward Gomes, Wahneema Lubiano, and Leonidas Nelson, Jr.
  • Richard H. Brodhead: Distinguished Service Award
  • David Malone: Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Wahneema Lubiano: Raymond Gavins Distinguished Faculty Award
  • Juan Ramirez, Jr.: Sammie Award
  • Henry Washington, Jr.: Sammie Award
  • Edward Gomes: Sammie Award
  • Leonidas Nelson, Jr.: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: For 20th Anniversary, Cook Society Celebrates Seven for Service & Activism

L-R: Delbert Wigfall, Courtnea A. Rainey, Stephanie Helms Pickett, and Paula Tanabe. Not Pictured: Kari Braclay and Carolyn Henson (for Sharon Elliott Bynum)
L-R: Delbert Wigfall, Courtnea A. Rainey, Stephanie Helms Pickett, and Paula Tanabe. Not Pictured: Kari Braclay and Carolyn Henson (for Sharon Elliott Bynum)
  • Sharon Elliott Bynum: Distinguished Service Award (posthumously awarded) received by Carolyn Henson (sister)
  • Stephanie Helms Pickett: Sammie Award
  • Courtnea Rainey: Sammie Award
  • Kari Barclay: Sammie Award
  • Delbert Wigfall: Sammie Award
  • Paula Tanabe: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Five Receive 2016 Samuel Cook Society Honors for Service

L-R: Sherilynn Black, Natalie Hall, Lee Willard, Barbara Lau, and Martin Eakes. Not Pictured: Marcus Rodriguez
L-R: Sherilynn Black, Natalie Hall, Lee Willard, Barbara Lau, and Martin Eakes. Not Pictured: Marcus Rodriguez
  • Martin Eakes: Distinguished Service Award
  • Barbara Lau: Sammie Award
  • Lee Willard: Sammie Award
  • Sherilynn Black: Sammie Award
  • Marcus Rodriguez: Sammie Award
  • Natalie Hall: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Cook Society to Recognize Six for Community, Leadership, Activism

Top L-R: David Stein, Patricia James, and Camille Jackson. Bottom L-R: Unnamed son of William Barber II, Kerry Haynie, Naureen Huda, and Roketa Shanell Sloan
Top L-R: David Stein, Patricia James, and Camille Jackson. Bottom L-R: Unnamed son of William Barber II, Kerry Haynie, Naureen Huda, and Roketa Shanell Sloan
  • William J. Barber II: Distinguished Service Award
  • Kerry Haynie: Sammie Award
  • Naureen Huda: Sammie Award
  • Camille Jackson: Sammie Award
  • Patricia James: Sammie Award
  • Roketa Shanell Sloan: Sammie Award
  • David Stein: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Seven Who Changed Their Communities: Cook Award Winners Honored Tuesday

 

Top L-R: Daniel Kimberg, Lee Baker, Marcus Benning, and Kevin White. Bottom L-R: Yuridia Ramirez, Li-Chen Chin, Dorothy Powell, and Charles West
Top L-R: Daniel Kimberg, Lee Baker, Marcus Benning, and Kevin White. Bottom L-R: Yuridia Ramirez, Li-Chen Chin, Dorothy Powell, and Charles West
  • Kevin White: Distinguished Service Award
  • Lee D. Baker: Sammie Award
  • Dorothy L. Powell: Sammie Award
  • Li-Chen Chin: Sammie Award
  • Daniel Kimberg: Sammie Award
  • Yuridia Ramirez: Sammie Award
  • Charles H. West: Sammie Award
  • Marcus Benning: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Duke Honors Eight Service Leaders With Cook Awards

Samuel DuBois Cook is pictured (center) with award winners Alexandra Swain, William Griffith, Allison Curseen, Rev. William C. Turner, Dr. Evelyn Schmidt and Chandra Guinn
Samuel DuBois Cook is pictured (center) with award winners Alexandra Swain, William Griffith, Allison Curseen, Rev. William C. Turner, Dr. Evelyn Schmidt and Chandra Guinn
  • Evelyn Schmidt: Distinguished Service Award
  • William Griffith: Special Recognition Award
  • Alexandra Swain: Sammie Award
  • Allison Curseen: Sammie Award
  • Chandra Guinn: Sammie Award
  • William Turner: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Six Honored at Cook Society Ceremony Tuesday

Kevin McDonald, the president and CEO of Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA), received a "Sammie" distinguished service award. Other "Sammie" winners were Raymond Gavins, Lauren Kottis, Navid Pourtaheri and Deborah Wahl. With the award winners is Samuel Dubois Cook, front left.
Kevin McDonald, the president and CEO of Triangle Residential Options for Substance Abusers (TROSA), received a "Sammie" distinguished service award. Other "Sammie" winners were Raymond Gavins, Lauren Kottis, Navid Pourtaheri and Deborah Wahl. With the award winners is Samuel Dubois Cook, front left.
  • Kevin McDonald: Distinguished Service Award
  • Raymond Gavins: Sammie Award
  • Deborah Wahl: Sammie Award
  • Navid Pourtaheri: Sammie Award
  • Lauren Kottis: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Adding It Up: Minorities in the Sciences

  • Ann Atwater: Distinguished Service Award
  • Bradley Collins: Sammie Award
  • Alethea Duncan: Sammie Award
  • Keith Lawrence: Sammie Award
  • Naomi Johnson, The Girls Club: Sammie Award
  • Shari Baker, The Girls Club: Sammie Award
  • Loren Krueger, The Girls Club: Sammie Award
  • Kelsey Porter, The Girls Club: Sammie Award
  • Gary Ybarra: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Cook Society Announces Award Winners at Annual Dinner

  • Peter Klopfer: Distinguished Service Award
  • William Fulkerson: Sammie Award
  • Martha Absher: Sammie Award
  • Mel Williams: Sammie Award
  • Flint Wang: Sammie Award
  • Dinh Xuan Phan: Sammie Award

Read the Duke Today article: Cook Society Announces Award Winners at Annual Dinner

  • Robert J. Thompson, Jr.: Special Honoree
  • MaryAnn Black - deceased: Distinguished Service Award
  • Patrick Alexander: Sammie Award
  • Maureen Cullins: Sammie Award
  • Paula McClain: Sammie Award
  • Lauren Gonzalez: Sammie Award
  • Calvin Howell: Sammie Award
  • Andrew Cook: Sammie Award
  • LeRoy T. Walker: Special Honoree
  • Rev. Joseph Harvard: Distinguished Service Award
  • John Cline: Community Betterment Award
  • Nirmala Chilamkurti: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Luke Stewart: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Xing Zong: Graduate Student Award
  • Mayor William V. Bell: Distinguished Service Award
  • John M. Branion, III: Pioneer Award
  • Robert Dean: Pioneer Award
  • Jacqueline Looney: Community Betterment Award
  • Mayme Webb-Bledsoe: Community Betterment Award
  • Ripal Shah: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Marcia Eisenstein: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Cord Whitaker: Graduate Student Award
  • Johnnetta B. Cole: Distinguished Service Award
  • R. Sanders Williams: Pioneer Award
  • Bradley Simmons: Community Betterment Award
  • Judith S. White: Community Betterment Award
  • Julia Hamilton: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Venis Wilder: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Staci Arnold: Graduate Student Award
  • Nannerl O. Keohane: Distinguished Service Award
  • John Burness: Distinguished Service Award
  • William "Monty" Reichert: Pioneer Award
  • Martina Bryant: Pioneer Award
  • Judith Ruderman: Community Betterment Award
  • Amanda Earp Diekman: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Amy Lazarus: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Robert Saunders: Graduate Student Award
  • Shayla Nunnally: Graduate Student Award
  • William Chafe: Special Honoree
  • Charles Johnson: Special Honoree
  • Charles Payne: Pioneer Award
  • H. Curtis Bowens: Community Betterment Award
  • Kesav Mohan: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Victoria DeFrancesco: Graduate Student Award
  • David Edwards: Graduate Student Award
  • Susan B. King: Distinguished Civic Service Award
  • Phail Wynn, Jr.: Distinguished Civic Service Award
  • Brenda E. Armstrong: Pioneer Award
  • James E. Coleman: Community Bettement Award
  • Deanna Atchley: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Adam Grossman: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Herb Sellers: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Bianca Williams: Undergraduate Student Award
  • Christina Chia: Graduate Student Award
  • Wilda Gafney: Graduate Student Award
  • Charles McKinney: Graduate Student Award
  • Mary D.B.T. Semans: Distinguished Civic Service Award
  • Elna B. Spaulding: Distinguished Civic Service Award
  • Kathy A. Silbiger: Pioneer Award
  • John W. Strobehn: Pioneer Award
  • Linda Fayd Capers: Community Betterment Award
  • Kenneth Kreuzer: Community Betterment Award
  • Constance Simmons: Community Betterment Award
  • Denis Godwin Antoine: Student Award
  • Marco Luis Davila: Student Award
  • Laura Elizabeth Hayman: Student Award
  • Myrna Adams: Pioneer Award
  • Karla Holloway: Pioneer Award
  • Janet Smith Dickerson: Pioneer Award
  • Anita-Yvonne Bryant: Community Betterment Award
  • Paul Nii-Amar Amamoo: Community Betterment Award
  • Jeremy Huff: Community Betterment Award
  • Paul Jeffrey: Special Honoree Award
  • No Awards Given