DURHAM, N.C. – Duke student-athletes and recent graduates Immanuel Kerr-Brown (wrestling) and Angel Thompson (women's lacrosse) are the recipients of the first Heidrick Family Leadership Post Graduate Scholarships, as announced earlier this month at the third annual Student-Athlete Talent and Recognition Show (STARS).
Established through a generous gift from the late Bob Heidrick and his family, the scholarship seeks to recognize leaders within the student-athlete community at Duke. In particular, recipients are selected based upon demonstrated growth in the area of leadership and how they have used those skills to enhance the community around them. The scholarships are viewed as an investment in the recipients and their potential for service through leadership in the future.
Kerr-Brown, who graduated from Duke in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, was equally as active in the community as he was on the wrestling mat. A two-time NCAA qualifier, Kerr-Brown was a tireless worker for the Blue Devils, improving greatly throughout his career. After posting a combined 31-30 record in his first two seasons in a Duke singlet, the Rome, Ga., native registered a career-best 26-13 record en route to qualifying for the NCAA Championships as a redshirt junior. He capped his career this past season with a 25-13 record and a second straight at-large berth in the NCAA Championships. He finished his career with an 80-56 overall record.
Kerr-Brown's work on the mat was matched by his efforts in the Duke and Durham communities. He regularly joined his teammates at the Durham Rescue Mission as well as a host of other volunteering ventures in the Durham community. He also served as a first-year advisory counselor for the A.C.T.I.O.N. program, mentoring first year students in their transition from high school to college. Nominated to represent the Duke wrestling team on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Kerr-Brown quickly became an active and crucial member to the organization. SAAC also had a strong impact on Kerr-Brown, influencing greatly his decision to pursue a career in athletic administration.
Better known as IKB around on campus, Kerr-Brown will pursue a master's degree for athletic administration from Ohio University.
Thompson, who completed a degree in psychology with minors in chemistry and biology this spring, was an active leader both on and off the lacrosse field during her four seasons in Durham. As one of eight seniors on the 2015 Duke squad, she helped guide the Blue Devils to their seventh NCAA semifinals trip and first since 2011. The goalkeeper from The Woodlands, Texas, made four appearances in the net as a senior and two as a junior after overcoming an ACL injury during her sophomore season.
Thompson represented the women's lacrosse team in Duke's SAAC organization, helping to organize outreach efforts with Project Share Durham, the Meg's Smile Foundation and the Wounded Warrior Project. She also served as a member of the Advancing Leaders program and as an A.C.T.I.O.N. mentor. At the conference level, Thompson has been recognized with an ACC Top Six for Service Award (2014) and on the ACC Academic Honor Roll.
Her outreach efforts over her four years were evident both on campus and in the Durham community. Thompson led a Duke student-athlete bible study called “Time Out” all four years and spent time volunteering with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and the Read with the Blue Devils initiative. She previously traveled to Nairobi, Kenya, on a mission trip while serving as a youth ministry intern with her church in Texas the summer before her sophomore year.
Thompson will pursue research and a clinical internship in Durham over the next year while applying to medical school.
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