As a social entrepreneur and activist, James Ferencsik is committed to tackling major social problems including waterborne disease and youth representation in politics. In 2013, James was awarded the Angier B. Duke Memorial Scholarship, an undergraduate merit award, to attend Duke. The scholarship is awarded to outstanding students who show promise of being intellectual leaders.
During his time at Duke, James spent two years running the Campaign for a Presidential Youth Council, which lobbied Congress and the White House to create a federal youth council. The bi-partisan, youth-led initiative seeks to advise the president on the perspectives of youth and offer recommendations on the design and implementation of youth policies.