Celebrating the Trinity Class of 2025

Undergraduate research is a core value at Duke, and Interdisciplinary education is baked into the academic experience of Trinity College students. With over 35 departments and programs spanning the arts, humanities, and natural and social sciences, Trinity students often forge their own paths — merging majors, minors and certificates to create unique academic experiences. 

Meet our five MFA in Dance graduates, whose terminal degrees provide an exclusive opportunity for graduate student-artists to pursue interdisciplinary academic and artistic projects in their respective fields of expertise, with the support of significant coursework within and outside of Dance.

Or meet students like Billy Cao, a Trinity senior graduating with majors in Literature and Biology, who has always been interested in the interaction between the humanities and sciences. 

Cao realized that when people think about that interaction, the humanities usually get short shrift. Through classes in global culture and theory, he was inspired to examine the ways in which the humanities can play a central role in our understanding of scientific inquiry.

We’re celebrating these seniors and more who have combined multiple academic tracks to create unique research experiences that could only happen at Duke.

The Trinity experience doesn't stop at the classroom doors. From Bass Connections projects, to Global Education programs, to co-curricular programs and international staff rides, stepping outside of the classroom shapes student’s experiences, and creates some of their biggest memories.

One of Viktoria Wulff-Andersen's most meaningful experiences at Duke was a History class taking place at a local prison.

“While the course itself opened my eyes to how the choices we make to retell life stories impact our perspectives on history, my classmates at Butner were the ones who enlightened me the most by granting me the privilege to hear their stories and understand their feelings about the carceral system in the United States,” said Viktoria.

Trinity students often carry with them a focus on community, and their participation in local organizations, student groups and co-curricular activities can be just as enriching to their academic experience as their coursework. By combining all of these experiences with classes led by some of the best scholars in the world, Trinity's undergrad education gives students a powerful springboard into their most ambitious dreams. 

Your experiences sharpen you, but they don’t make you who you are. At Duke, I’ve been challenged both inside and outside of the classroom, and I’ve grown into a better version of myself as a result of those experiences. 

- Cecilia Gyamfi, Political Science and African & African American Studies major

Read as some of our seniors share their favorite educational moments from across the university and the world. 

Navigating through the variety of degree options and courses Trinity offers can seem to be a daunting task. The Trinity Ambassadors is a peer-to-peer program through which juniors and seniors across all of Trinity's departments are accessible as a resource for all undergraduates.

As many of the current cohort of Trinity Ambassadors prepare to leave Duke, we asked them for one last reflection on their time at Duke and their advice to future students.

Take advantage of all the resources and opportunities that Duke offers. I could probably spend 40 years at Duke and still not be able to go to all the talks and take all the classes I want to.

- Alex Wang, Political Science and Economics major

Read all the ambassador reflections

From departmental awards and honors distinctions to national recognitions, Trinity College students are frequently acknowledged for their hard work and the success that follows.

“Not only is she able to turn that passion into change, but she inspires the desire for change in others," said Thompson Writing Program Lecturer Hannah Taylor about recent Sullivan Award winner Velda Wang.

“I am excited to see all that she accomplishes in her work, as I expect her to become a key contributor in any community she joins."

Meet a few of these award-winning students who have been recognized for both their academic and community achievements.