In the runup to Duke University’s 2025 commencement exercises on May 11, we visit with two inspirational soon-to-be Blue Devil graduates. Star defensive end and Durham native VJ Anthony completed his African and African American Studies degree requirements in only three-and-a-half years and is locked in on one final college football campaign in the fall. Senior women’s tennis standout Ellie Coleman, an Environmental Sciences major, enjoyed an undefeated ACC singles season this spring and helped her team to an undefeated conference record and regular season championship. She’s eyeing a final run in the NCAA Tournament this month. And while both have been at the top of their games athletically, their Duke experiences have also included game-changing moments beyond the spotlight of competition.

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As the Duke basketball program makes its 18th NCAA Final Four appearance, director of athletics Nina King underscores the visionary leadership displayed by head coach Jon Scheyer from the interview process through his first three seasons at the helm. One of Scheyer’s former Duke teammates and classmates, Brian Zoubek, reflects on the 15th anniversary of the 2010 national title; associate head coach Chris Carrawell puts the achievement of reaching the Final Four in perspective; and radio broadcasters David Shumate and John Roth recap the road to the Final Four through some of the highlight moments of the season. Plus, a conversation with recent track & field alumna Moorea Mitchell, who will play a part in the singing of the national anthem before Saturday’s games in San Antonio.

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It’s time to meet Duke’s newest NCAA champion. Simen Guttormsen, a graduate student from Norway, recently won the national title in the men’s pole vault at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field meet, following up a record-setting performance to claim gold at the ACC Championships a couple weeks prior. A two-time Norwegian national champ who competed at the Paris Olympics last summer alongside his older brother, Simen began is collegiate career at Princeton before moving to Duke for grad school and winning the Blue Devils’ first national track crown since Curtis Beach (heptathlon, 2012, 2104). Also, our calls of the month feature Duke’s dual men’s and women’s ACC Tournament basketball triumphs.

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