Deepen your education and serve others.
Regardless of a student’s faith background, they can learn and serve with the Chapel. The life of Chapel ranges from presenting the building’s architecture to critically examining its preaching tradition to going on pilgrimages in Durham and beyond. Students contribute to, and grow from, all of these offerings.
Bridge Internship
Eligibility: Duke and North Carolina Central students
The Bridge Internship is a program offered by the Wesley Campus Ministry at North Carolina Central University, the NCCU Office of Spiritual Development and Dialogue, and Duke University Chapel. This summer internship invites student participants into an eight-week summer residency to live in community across typical divides. Living together and working in the community, participants consider how matters of faith shape the way they might live meaningfully and with purpose in the world, while also developing practical life skills related to work, community, and a fulfilling personal life.
C. Eric Lincoln Fellowship
Eligibility: Duke students
The C. Eric Lincoln Fellowship is a semester-long program that 1) provides funding to an undergraduate student for a sacred art project and 2) invites the fellow to broaden the reach of artistic expression at the Duke University Chapel. Applicants must be active students at Duke in good standing. The fellowship runs the length of the spring semester. The Lincoln Fellow is expected to produce a visual art exhibit to be displayed in Duke Chapel near the end of the spring semester.
Chapel Scholars
Eligibility: Duke undergraduate students
Application deadline: Rolling
Chapel Scholars provides opportunities for students to hear and respond to God’s call for their lives on campus, in Durham, and beyond, through study, counsel, service, artistic expression, and community. Among the many students who connect with the Chapel each year, a select group of Chapel Scholars displays a unique commitment to discerning how to connect their talents and passions to the world’s deepest needs. Chapel Scholars is an ecumenical Christian program, which means that participating students come from a wide range of Christian traditions. Many Chapel Scholar students also participate in other Religious Life groups, and are encouraged to foster a sense of cooperation and hospitality across ministry groups.
Duke Chapel Student Ambassadors
Eligibility: Duke Undergraduate students
Duke Chapel Student Ambassadors extend the legacy and share the wonder of the Chapel—the place, the people, the program—to the broader Duke and Durham community through special event support and custom tours and programs. Chapel Ambassadors come from different majors, cities, and backgrounds but are united in an interest in one (or more) of the many dimensions of Duke Chapel. Ambassadors need not be affiliated with any religious community or any other Chapel program. The Ambassadors program is now accepting its next cohort of Ambassadors, with a preference for first-years to juniors.
Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope
Eligibility: Duke students
On the Durham Pilgrimage of Pain and Hope, you immerse yourself in the story of the city and the biblical story as you reflect with others on what they mean for how you live your life in Durham. The pilgrimage is led by a DurhamCares, a local nonprofit with a mission to foster collaboration, develop leaders, and educate the people of Durham to care for their neighbors in holistic ways.
Hall Award
Eligibility: Duke undergraduate students
The Betty and Bob Hall Award was instituted in 2007 by trustee-emeritus A. Morris Williams, Jr. (Trinity 1962; Graduate School 1963) and his wife Ruth Whitmore Williams (Woman's College 1963) to support Duke University students’ participation in Christian-related service projects. Mr. and Mrs. Williams set up the endowment in honor of the parents of Sara Hall Brandaleone (WC 1965), whom they greatly admired. Sara and Bruce Brandaleone joined Mr. and Mrs. Williams in funding the endowment. Thanks to an endowment established by the friends of Bob and Betty Hall, the Chapel offers an annual award to a student doing Christian service work during the summer. Applications in the form of an essay between 750 and 1,000 words that addresses the summer work and its relationship to the student’s faith expression. The application packet should also include a detailed budget. Students can be awarded up to $3,000. Students should receive notification about their application around mid to late April.
Nighttime Tower Climbs
Eligibility: Duke students
Climbing the Chapel tower at night is a chance to bond with other students, participate in a Duke tradition, and experience an amazing view of campus and beyond. These special tower climbs are offered one night each month from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Physical mobility is required to climb the 239 steps. You can sign up as an individual or a friend-group.
PathWays Fellowship
Eligibility: Duke Divinity School Students
The PathWays Fellowship is a year-long (August 15 to May 15) residential program for students in any of Duke Divinity School's graduate programs that offers opportunities for vocational exploration, mentorship, service, and formation deeply rooted in the Durham community and the fellows’ Christian traditions. PathWays Fellows live, study, and learn together in the PathWays House in Durham's West End neighborhood, which is walking distance from both Duke campus and downtown Durham. They participate in programming that provides tools for making connections between academics, faith, and life while discerning their vocational and spiritual direction in community.
Research Opportunities
Eligibility: Duke students
The Chapel partners with other campus departments and units on research projects related to the Duke Chapel Recordings digital archives. Students have been part of these team research projects.
Student Jobs
Eligibility: Duke Students
The Chapel hires students for a variety of jobs from worship coordination to administration to communications. Apply on the JobX website by searching for “Chapel.”