Sarah P. Duke Gardens Awarded Preservation NC's Top Honor

Duke University will receive Preservation North Carolina's highest honor for the restoration of the historic Roney Fountain that now sits near the entrance to Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The Minnette C. Duffy Landscape Preservation Award recognizes preservation, restoration or maintenance of landscapes, gardens, streetscapes or grounds related to historic structures.

Durham Grammy-Winner Marsalis to Receive State's Highest Civilian Honor

World-renowned saxophonist Branford Marsalis will receive the state's highest civilian honor, the North Carolina Award. The state Department of Cultural Resources selected the Durham-based Grammy winner for his many musical contributions to the community and for his volunteer work, including with the N.C. Symphony.

Durham Ranked Businessweek's 37th Best American City

Durham was ranked #37 among Businessweek's America's 50 Best Cities list for its "great parks, many restaurants, and good air quality." The article goes on to note that Durham "has done well in this economic environment, with a below-average unemployment rate and one of the lowest rates of foreclosures among cities on our list."

Duke Honored With Higher Education Civic Engagement Award

Duke University has been recognized for its commitment to global service and community involvement with the Higher Education Civic Engagement Award by The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars. Duke is one of just six institutions nationwide chosen for the award which will be presented Oct. 3 during The Washington Center’s annual awards luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Quintiles Ranked Fourth Among Technology Innovators

Durham-based pharmaceutical services company Quintiles ranked fourth in Information Week's annual rankings of the 500 top technology innovators.

NCCU School of Law Ranked Fourth for Clinical Opportunities

preLaw magazine has ranked the N.C. Central University School of Law fourth in the nation in clinical opportunities for students. The only law schools ranked higher than NCCU were those at Yale University, the University of Georgia and the University of the District of Columbia.

Duke Ranked Nation's 10th Best University by U.S. News & World Report

Duke is the nation's 10th best university according to U.S. News & World Report's 2011 national university rankings. Duke has ranked among the nation's top 10 universities since 1988 with the exception of 1989 when Duke placed 12th.

Composer Robert Ward Honored with Lifetime Achievement Award by National Endowment for the Arts

Robert Ward, Durham's 94-year-old Pulitzer Prize winning composer, has been recognized with a lifetime achievement award from the National Endowment for the Arts' Opera Honors in Washington, D.C. Ward's resume includes seven symphonies, eight operas and numerous shorter works. Ward taught at Duke University for over a decade and served as chancellor of the NC School of the Arts in Winston-Salem.

NC Central University Officially Joins Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference

N.C. Central University is now an official member of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. As a member program, NCCU is now eligible to participate in conference championships. NCCU began operating as a provisional MEAC member in 2009.

Durham Named a “Playful City USA”

For the third year in a row, Durham Parks and Recreation (DPR) has been recognized by KaBOOM! as a Playful City USA for its efforts to increase play opportunities for children. The City of Durham was selected because of its outstanding dedication to play and its joint-use agreement with Durham Public Schools to enable public access to additional play spaces.

Durham Farmers' Market Voted One of America's Favorite Farmers' Markets

Durham Farmers' Market placed 11th in the American Farmland Trust "America's Favorite Farmers' Market" contest in the large market category. Fans of the market cast their votes throughout the summer making Durham Farmers' Market a standout among the country's over 7000 farmers' markets.

Eight Durham Companies Named to Best Places to Work List

Triangle Business Journal named eight Durham-based companies to their annual list of 'Best Places to Work in the Triangle':  NetApp, EMC Corporation, Bronto Software, Clarkson Consulting, Alston & Bird, BioAgilytix Labs, Evoapp Inc., and Relevance Inc.

Washington Duke Inn Awarded "Best of the South" Recognition

The Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club has been recognized as a "2011 Best of the South" property by the readers of Meetings Focus South on the basis of quality of meeting space, guest rooms, staff, service, food, beverage, amenities, activities and value.