DUKE’S FINEST HONORED: Jane Atkeson and Ellie Coleman Awarded Prestigious 2025 Heidrick Family Leadership Postgraduate Scholarships

In a moment of well-deserved recognition that speaks volumes about their talent, work ethic, and leadership, Duke University student-athletes Jane Atkeson and Ellie Coleman have been awarded the prestigious 2025 Heidrick Family Leadership Postgraduate Scholarships. This honor not only marks the pinnacle of their collegiate athletic careers but also reflects their exceptional contributions both on and off the field. The Heidrick Family Leadership Postgraduate Scholarship, awarded annually, seeks to celebrate the most outstanding senior student-athletes at Duke who exemplify academic excellence, athletic success, leadership, and commitment to service. For Jane and Ellie, this accolade is more than a scholarship—it’s a capstone to years of dedication and a powerful affirmation of their continued potential.

Jane Atkeson, who has been a foundational member of Duke Rowing, is widely recognized for her steady presence, discipline, and team-first attitude. Known to her teammates and coaches simply as “a force of nature,” Atkeson has grown from a determined underclassman into a true leader on and off the water. From grueling early morning workouts on Lake Michie to countless hours spent supporting her teammates, Atkeson has led by example. Her work ethic, quiet intensity, and relentless positivity earned her not only the trust of her teammates but also the respect of the broader Duke Athletics community. She was never the type to seek the spotlight, but in receiving the Heidrick Scholarship, her impact is now being acknowledged at the highest level. What sets Atkeson apart is not just her athletic ability but her devotion to the ideals of community and service. She has been instrumental in helping coordinate outreach efforts with Durham-area youth, regularly volunteering her time to mentor young athletes and promote wellness through rowing. Her academic journey is equally impressive. A double major in Political Science and Public Policy, Atkeson maintained a near-perfect GPA while balancing the relentless demands of Division I athletics. Her professors describe her as intellectually curious, deeply committed to the pursuit of justice, and unwavering in her desire to make meaningful change. It’s no surprise that she intends to pursue graduate studies in international relations and public service, aspiring to work in global policy with a focus on human rights.

Ellie Coleman, meanwhile, has made her mark as one of the brightest stars in Duke Women’s Tennis. Fiercely competitive on the court and deeply compassionate off it, Coleman has been the kind of student-athlete every coach dreams of leading. Since joining the program, she has delivered in high-pressure situations time and again, helping Duke clinch critical matches in ACC play and consistently being the spark that ignites the team’s energy. But Ellie is far more than her impressive tennis record. Her leadership has been transformative. Whether organizing team-building events or mentoring younger players through the rigors of student-athlete life, she’s been the heart of Duke Women’s Tennis. Her coaches often say that her emotional intelligence is matched only by her competitive fire, a rare combination that makes her a natural leader. Off the court, Coleman has excelled in the classroom as a Psychology major with a focus on sports performance and mental health. She has been involved in several research initiatives studying the intersection of mental wellness and athletic identity, a topic she feels deeply passionate about. As an advocate for athlete mental health, she has worked with the Duke Athletics department to help improve support systems for all student-athletes. Her dedication in this area is personal and profound, and she plans to use her postgraduate scholarship to pursue a graduate degree in sports psychology. Coleman’s dream is to eventually return to the collegiate athletics space in a leadership or counseling role, helping shape healthier, more sustainable environments for future generations of athletes.

The Heidrick Family Leadership Postgraduate Scholarship was established with the goal of investing in the long-term success of Duke’s most promising leaders. In Jane Atkeson and Ellie Coleman, the scholarship has found recipients who embody the values it was created to promote. Both women have demonstrated not only the ability to lead in the present but the vision and determination to lead into the future. In recognizing them, the scholarship committee has spotlighted two individuals who represent the best of what collegiate athletics can be—a platform for growth, leadership, education, and service. What makes this moment even more powerful is the friendship and mutual respect that exists between Atkeson and Coleman. Though they hail from different sports and come from different paths, they share a commitment to excellence and a belief in using their platforms to uplift others. The Duke Athletics community has watched both women grow into leaders in real time, and their impact is already reverberating throughout the broader university environment.

It’s also a testament to the culture cultivated within Duke Athletics—a culture that prizes not just wins and championships, but character, resilience, and the kind of leadership that lasts long after the final whistle. For Atkeson and Coleman, this award is not a culmination but a launching pad. As they prepare to leave the playing fields of Durham behind, both women carry with them the lessons, relationships, and values that have defined their Duke experiences. They step forward into their next chapters not just as former student-athletes but as scholars, leaders, and visionaries. The honor also resonates deeply for the younger student-athletes who look up to them. In a time when collegiate sports are undergoing massive transformation—from NIL deals to increased awareness of athlete mental health—figures like Atkeson and Coleman serve as guiding lights. They have navigated the pressures and possibilities of the modern NCAA landscape with grace and grit, and their stories now serve as blueprints for how to thrive without compromising one’s integrity or passion.

The broader Duke community has celebrated the announcement with enthusiasm and pride. Faculty, alumni, and fans have all expressed admiration for both recipients, flooding social media with congratulations and heartfelt tributes. These moments matter—not just because of the awards themselves but because of what they say about the kind of university Duke strives to be. At a time when the value of the student-athlete model is under scrutiny, honors like the Heidrick Scholarship remind us of what’s still possible when education and athletics are pursued together with purpose. Atkeson and Coleman stand as living proof that one can compete at the highest level athletically while also achieving academic distinction and having a lasting social impact.

As they prepare to walk across the graduation stage, both women do so with a sense of fulfillment and anticipation. There is no doubt that they will go on to do great things, but for those who have had the privilege to know them at Duke, their legacy is already firmly in place. They have raised the bar for what it means to be a student-athlete, and in doing so, have inspired those who will follow in their footsteps. The Heidrick Family Leadership Postgraduate Scholarships are given sparingly and awarded with care—and in 2025, they could not have found two more deserving recipients. For Jane Atkeson and Ellie Coleman, the honor is both a reward and a responsibility, one they are fully prepared to carry into the future. As Duke celebrates their achievements, it also reaffirms its belief in the power of athletics to shape not just champions, but changemakers. And in that respect, Jane and Ellie have already won.