Andrea Duke
http://www.missnorthcarolinausa.com/ Sources/quotes from Miss NC-USA press release, UF-MSM program department/press release
Andrea Duke of Saluda, NC was crowned Miss NC-USA at the High Point Theater & Exhibition Center in High Point, NC. Duke is a 2000 graduate of East Henderson High School and a 2005 graduate of Wofford College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in French with a philosophy minor. She is currently a graduate student at the University of Florida-Gainesville, where she will graduate in December with a Master’s degree in Business Administration, major: Management.
The Miss NC-USA Pageant is an official preliminary of the Miss USA Pageant and the Miss Universe Organization. Duke entered the pageant with hopes of fulfilling her dream to make a positive difference in the lives of others and to have the opportunity to compete for the title of Miss USA. Her win was the culmination of many years of hard work and preparation. Duke was also a collegiate volleyball player during her undergraduate career at Wofford College where she was the first to garner an All-Conference award (second team) for the volleyball program and also broke 13 school records in 3 years.
Andrea recently graduated from the Hough Graduate School of Business in the Warrington College of Business Administration at the University of Florida. Her degree is a Master of Science, major: Management (MSM) which is a graduate business degree designed specifically for NON-business majors. This rigorous and challenging one year specialized master’s program boasts the same curriculum as the first year of the traditional two-year MBA program. Andrea was also selected to serve as one of the MSM Ambassadors to help with recruitment and to answer questions from prospective applicants. She has proven her many talents through juggling classes, MSM information sessions, team projects, interviews, volunteer work and travel. Andrea is a terrific role model for The University of Florida and beyond.
“The MSM program has been a fantastic experience and has proven to be a wonderful avenue for me to gain business knowledge and experience” said Duke. “Being a French major with a philosophy minor during my undergraduate career meant the business route was a completely new and challenging experience for me. However, the professors, program advisors, fellow students, and other faculty have made my MSM experience both enjoyable and beneficial for my personal and professional life. I can't say enough about how supportive the faculty and staff have been. My fellow classmates have also played an integral part as colleagues within the program, but more importantly as friends and encouragers and I am forever grateful to them. And I must express what a fabulous school UF is as a whole. I could not be more excited and proud to be a part of THE Gator Nation and to be your fellow Gator!”
As a result of her win, Duke will represent North Carolina in the Miss USA Pageant. The date and location of the national pageant have not yet been released. Over the next several months, she will make appearances across the state of North Carolina and begin her preparations for the national competition.
Over the past several years, Duke has been actively involved in promoting self-esteem among young women, specifically addressing the dangers of eating disorders, and she is very passionate about spreading a message of hope and encouragement. She is also passionate about raising awareness for breast cancer and hopes to become involved in more volunteer work in that area over the next year and beyond. Duke is the daughter of Alan and Brenda Duke of Saluda, NC and is the sister of brother Dustin Duke who resides in Tampa, FL with his wife Emily and daughter Riley (1 years old).
submitted by J McNulty