BOLD Alumni
Meet the past Fellows who paved the way!
Joel Bergstein
BOLD Fellow, 2016-2017
Fitness Co-Lead
Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2017
BOLD Trip: Cayambe, Ecuador - 2016
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Hometown: Washington D.C.
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Bucket List Trip: Aconcagua, Argentina (Tallest mountain in South America). Also, the PCT if I can ever find the time
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Favorite Piece of Gear: ENO Sub7 Hammock. A hammock that weighs less than 7 ounces, it pretty much comes with me everywhere now if I think there is the slightest chance there will be a place to hang it. Also my Garmin Fenix3, the last watch I’ll ever own
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Favorite Smell: The rising mist coming from the forest at the trailhead on a cool summers day
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Animal Alter-ego: A grizzly bear whose wild heart can’t be broken
Fun Fact / Quote:
“You're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So... get on your way!”
-Dr. Seuss
Libby Rybacki
BOLD Fellow, 2016-2017
Fitness Co-Lead
​BOLD Associate Fellow, 2015-2016
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Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2017
BOLD Trip: Cayambe, Ecuador - 2016
Hometown: Huntsville, AL
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Bucket List Trip: Glacier National Park
Favorite Piece of Gear: Warm hat
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Favorite Smell: Campfire
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Animal Alter-ego: Deer
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Fun Fact / Quote: "Today we do what others won’t, so tomorrow we can do what others can’t."
Dennis Bartlett
BOLD Co-President, 2016-2017
BOLD Fellow, 2015-2016
BOLD Participant, 2014-2015
Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2017
Nicholas School of the Environment, Class of 2017
BOLD Trip: Cayambe, Ecuador - 2016
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Hometown: North Easton, MA
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Bucket List Trip: Denali, Mt Cook, and the PCT
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Favorite Piece of Gear: My bear canister - every time I backpack, I find a new use for it
Favorite Smell: Fresh laundered clothes in the middle of a long hike
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Animal Alter-ego: A yellow-bellied marmot (don’t let the name fool you, they are great in the mountains)
Fun Fact / Quote: “Not till we are lost, in other words not till we have lost the world, do we begin to find ourselves, and realize where we are and the infinite extent of our relations.” – H.D. Thoreau
Wes Ross
BOLD Co-President, 2014-2015
BOLD Fellow, 2013-2014
Mechanical Engineering PhD Program
Last BOLD Trip: Cotopaxi, Ecuador - 2014
On the bucket list:
Climb Aconcagua, Argentina, because it will be more difficult than any mountain I've climbed before and it intimidates me.
On the iPod:
Papercut, Linkin Park
Best gear purchase:
Banana keeper, for the backpacking trips when you don't want a squished banana for breakfast.
For fun:
"If you're not falling, you're not climbing."
Also, Wes first encountered BOLD by coincidence on the mountain in Mexico during the 2012 BOLD expedition to Pico de Orizaba. This convinced him to come to Duke. His pursuit of summits developed out of his passion for rock climbing during childhood.
Luis Elizondo
Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2015
Last BOLD Trip: Cotopaxi, Ecuador - 2014
On the Bucket List:
Completing the Milford Track in New Zealand because of the stunning views.
On the iPod:
Ten Feet Tall, Afrojack
Best gear purchase:
A green backpack that I’ve used for work, travel and of course hiking.
Trevor Johnson
Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2015
Health Sector Management Program
Last BOLD Trip: Pico de Orizaba, Mexico - 2014
On the Bucket List:
Trevor did not answer this. Maybe he doesn't know what a bucket list is.
On the iPod:
Heart of Champion, Nelly
Best gear purchase:
Synthetic down jacket – warm, waterproof, and rolls into the size of a softball.
For fun:
I do a great Arnold Schwartzenegger impression. (The editor of this website can confirm - it's true, he really does!)
Maddie Gilbert
BOLD Fellow, 2016-2017
Social Media & Recruitment Lead
BOLD Associate Fellow, 2015-2016
Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2017
BOLD Trip: Huemul Circuit, Argentina (Patagonia) - 2016
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
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Bucket List Trip: Backpacking in Scotland or New Zealand
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Favorite Piece of Gear: My REI AirRail sleeping pad that looks like a pool float but keeps me from sliding around in the middle of the night
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Favorite Smell: Fresh bacon sizzling in the morning
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Animal Alter-ego: A lion because of my unruly blond hair
Fun Fact / Quote: "Don't ever mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance, or my kindness for weakness."
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"A little nonsense now and then is relished by the wisest men."
Zen Dedekind
BOLD Fellow, 2016-2017
Finance & Gear Lead
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Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2017
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BOLD Trip: Cayambe, Ecuador - 2016
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Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
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Bucket List Trip: Trip to Antarctica
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Favorite Piece of Gear: My boots
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Favorite Smell: Petrichor, the scent produced when rain falls on dry soil.
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Animal Alter-ego: Peregrine Falcon
Fun Fact / Quote: "If you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much space."
Andrew Klinkman
BOLD Fellow, 2016-2017
Outdoor Education Lead
Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2017
Nicholas School of the Environment, Class of 2017
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BOLD Trip: Cornerstone 2014
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
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Bucket List Trip: The Laugavegur trek in Iceland looks awesome. Hot springs, lava fields, multicolored mountains…what more could you ask for?
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Favorite Piece of Gear: So many ones to pick from…but it’s gotta be my Keen hiking boots. More comfortable than slippers, but keep your feet way drier.
Favorite Smell: The smell of the dense fog after a warm rain in the mountains while hiking on soggy fall leaves. Or just pizza after a long hike. Either one.
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Animal Alter-ego: Penguin. Definitely a penguin.
Fun Fact / Quote: I met Hulk Hogan (the professional wrestler) when I was a year old. He picked me up and said,“Whew...it’s about time for me to retire!” Needless to say, I was kind of a pudgy baby.
Greg Snyder
BOLD Co-President, 2014-2015
Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2015
Last BOLD Trip: Pico de Orizaba, Mexico - 2014
On the bucket list:
Rafting the Colorado River due to its sheer size and beauty.
On the iPod:
Nothing gets me more excited and ready for a hiking trip than listening to Bluegrass. If I had my way, every radio station would play all bluegrass all the time.
Best gear purchase:
Keen Neport - a sandal and a closed-toe shoe at the same time!
For fun:
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." -- James Dean
Travis Ferber
Fuqua School of Business, Class of 2015
Concentration in Decision Sciences and Strategy
Last BOLD Trip: Cotopaxi, Ecuador - 2014
On the Bucket List:
Summit Aconcagua, South America’s tallest mountain.
On the iPod:
Thunderstruck, AC/DC
Best gear purchase:
Light synthetic down jacket from REI. I wear that thing everywhere. The sleeves are removable and it folds up into itself for easy storage (I’m a bit of a packing freak – everything has its place!).
For fun:
In my spare time, I sometimes binge on animal videos on YouTube. Seriously, have you seen a micro-pig being petted, or a hedgehog eating a mini birthday cake? You have not lived until you’ve experienced the sheer joy of a basset hound running in slow motion.
Kelli Luginbuhl
Pratt School of Engineering
Biomedical Engineering PhD Program
Last BOLD Trip: Pico de Orizaba, Mexico - 2014
On the Bucket List:
The Swiss Alps. It would be awesome to hike/ski/climb those and look down at where the Luginbuhls all started.
On the iPod:
Stronger, Kanye
Best gear purchase:
My 70L Osprey pack. It got the nickname "monster" because of its size, but that things has been everywhere with me, through rain, shine, sweat, blood, and tears.
For fun:
I lived in Colorado for 14 years before hiking my first 14er.
Maria Klushina
Nicholas School of the Environment, 2015
Last BOLD Trip: Cotopaxi, Ecuador - 2014
On the Bucket List:
Biking the perimeter of Iceland and seeing the northern lights. The dream started as a solo ride, but would be a great experience with a team.
On the iPod:
Maria is still thinking about this one.
Best gear purchase:
My North Face hard shell that I got last minute, on a crazy sale right before a ski trip. From biking in 20F rainy days to the Colorado slopes it keeps me warm and dry, I just need my (2nd best purchase ever) Spyder baselayer top and I am set.
For fun: