B.S. Architecture Senior Duong Le has been named a 2021 Phillip Merrill Presidential Scholar by the University of Maryland Office of Undergraduate Studies. The Merrill Presidential Scholars Program honors the University of Maryland’s most accomplished seniors for their academic and personal achievements during their time at Maryland, and the UMD faculty and K-12 teachers who mentored, challenged and inspired them along the way. Le was one of 19 seniors selected campus-wide for the program, considered the most prestigious and competitive undergraduate achievement at the University of Maryland. He will be honored by President Darryl Pines at the annual scholars’ luncheon on December 3, 2021.
Originally from Vietnam, Le, who is also earning minors in GIS and Construction Management, has taken full advantage of his Maryland experience, something that resonates with his UMD mentor, Michael Abrams.
“Duong is just a remarkable, extremely hardworking and smart kid and has really tried to get as much out of his time at Maryland as he can,” said Abrams, who himself came to the continental U.S. for his undergraduate and graduate studies from Puerto Rico. “He’s a soft-spoken guy but, behind the scenes, he’s doing all of these things.”
In addition to serving as AIAS Vice President and completing internships with award-winning firms Hord Coplan Macht and AECOM, Le has been a research assistant at MAPP and a sought-after Academic Peer Mentor for freshman and sophomore students, often meeting outside of class time to help new designers master a drawing technique or nail down a concept.
“I am so honored and overwhelmed by this opportunity to be recognized by the school and President Pines,” said Le. “My excitement is through the roof.”
Le credits his high school physics teacher, Jonathan Jeane, and the enriching lab experiments he designed at Longwood High School in Middle Island, New York, as his introduction to the built environment, motivating him to excel in school. Later, at UMD, Abrams introduced sophomore Le to hand sketching, a fundamental technique that helped him hone his communications and analytical skills. As part of the Merrill Scholars program, a scholarship in Jeane’s name will be awarded to a first-year student from the Middle Island district.
Le said he often thinks back to a statement Abrams made in one of his first classes about the importance of reflecting on your history and path with every achievement earned.
“Being the first generation of my family to study in the United States, I am truly grateful to have this chance to provide an opportunity to another student,” he said. “It’s a statement about everything I’ve worked for and how it can pay tribute to something fruitful.”
After graduation, Le plans to take time to work in some aspect of design/construction, learning from as many people as possible about different aspects of the built environment. He looks forward to building a better understanding of how buildings come together and sharpening the skills he learned during his undergraduate experience—before coming back to Maryland some day for his master’s degree.
“There’s a real rigor and passion for the field there,” said Abrams. “He’s going to conquer the world.”
Learn more about the Phillip Merrill Presidential Scholars Program.