IU Health leader receives prestigious mentoring award

Courtney Finafrock, senior social media associate, cfinafrock@iuhealth.org

James Duke, IU Health's Director of Supplier Engagement & Sustainability, is the 2026 recipient of the Thomas W. Dortch Jr. Mentor of the Year Award which is a prestigious honor presented by the 100 Black Men of America, Inc. Duke has served as a mentor for the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis for the last 25 years.

"I'm deeply honored to be the recipient of it," Duke said.

Specifically, Duke's mentorship through the 100 Black Men of Indianapolis centers around the Beautillion Militaire Scholarship Program. Duke explains the 26-week program gives young men, who are high school seniors, an opportunity to participate in this overnight camping experience.

"We do dining etiquette, they have an opportunity to meet with folks who are in the careers they say they want to go into; we give them the opportunity to do what's called Things a Beau Ought to Know," Duke explained. "So, we teach them how to change oil, how to change a tire, how to cook a simple meal, how to care for your clothes, wash your clothes. Preparing them for being a man in today's world."

Duke said the program is intentional about connecting the students with successful and positive adults.

"Our tagline is what they see is what they'll be," Duke explained. "So, we always try to put individuals in front of them that are positive images and role models for them."

Over the last 25 years, Duke estimates he has directly impacted around 1,000 young men.

"I really count it as a badge of honor to be able to invest this time because I had many mentors, and I still have mentors in my life right now, that I can bounce ideas off," Duke said.

Duke said he is immensely grateful for the mentoring relationships that have turned into genuine friendships with the students; now he receives invites to their weddings and even their baby announcements. For him, those are a sign of trust established between mentor and mentee.

"A fun part for me is, especially for those mentees that are still in college, from time to time I'll send them a random text message, usually on a Friday night at about midnight and I'll ask, are you making good decisions right now," Duke said while laughing. "I love it when they respond back, 'Hey Mr. Duke, so good to hear from you, yes, I'm making good decisions.' But I also equally love it when they say, 'Mr. Duke, should of called me about an hour ago. We'll do better the next time. Thanks for reaching out.' What that tells me is, there's a level of trust that they have for me."

Duke said pouring into the next generation feels like a calling, and he is honored to accept that challenge.

"With what I do, it's not hard for me to really understand what my purpose in life is," Duke said. "It's always engaged with helping people."