Completed Event: Volleyball versus California on November 28, 2025 , Loss , 2, to, 3
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Final
Volleyball
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ACE Program Ambassador: Sarah Nelson
7/3/2020 11:32:00 AM | Volleyball
ACE Program Ambassador: Sarah Nelson
DURHAM, N.C. – Despite international travel for The Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program (ACE) being canceled for the summer of 2020, the ACE Program has multiple past participants who continue to demonstrate the values ACE taught them as part of being an ACE Ambassador. This week, we highlight Sarah Nelson.
In February 2014, Duke's Board of Trustee's, chaired by Duke alumnus David Rubenstein, traveled to Palo Alto, Calif., and met with officials from Stanford to determine opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions. The challenging schedules of student-athletes, which make participating in off-campus activities such as study abroad programs difficult, was identified as an issue the two universities could work together on in order to develop a solution, leading to the genesis of ACE. The ACE program was officially announced in Spring 2015.
Recent Duke graduate and member of the volleyball team, Nelson traveled to South Africa in 2019 with the ACE Program.
"I grew up volunteering and feeling fulfilled through serving with others and I thought ACE would be another similar volunteer experience," Nelson said. "However, the ACE experience has impacted me in ways I never expected. During ACE, I had the opportunity to work with the kids in the Zola Township on sports activities and tutor adults about how to use computers. Yet, it was the selfless way the kids cared for one another during the sports camp that made this experience stand out and shape my career goals. In addition, the other Duke and Stanford participants really became a family to me. We are so grateful for these three weeks and these memorable experiences of love and selflessness that brought us all together."
Nelson enjoys giving back to the community, is involved in ACTION (the first-year student-athlete program at Duke) and describes her trip to South Africa as an "unbelievably fulfilling experience". She is excited to stay connected with ACE and is hoping to go back again soon to continue to serve in the Township.
"I came back and shared a bunch of pictures and stories with my team immediately because they were all already in Durham when I got back," Nelson said. "I always want to put my team and my teammates first and continue to remind myself that they each have a story behind their actions, and you do not always see the full picture. I continue to love on them and share my experiences so we continue to build a strong culture. This year, I am pushing for our team to do much more community engagement."
Nelson plans to continue her education at the University of Southern California where she will pursue a Masters of Science in social entrepreneurship. She will also complete her final year of athletic eligibility with the volleyball squad.
"My ultimate goal is to bring economic growth to these less developed communities and countries around the world by establishing a sports program and teaching life/business skills through it," Nelson said. "My ACE experience really shaped these interests in pursuing this field as an entrepreneurial career."
#GoDuke
In February 2014, Duke's Board of Trustee's, chaired by Duke alumnus David Rubenstein, traveled to Palo Alto, Calif., and met with officials from Stanford to determine opportunities for collaboration between the two institutions. The challenging schedules of student-athletes, which make participating in off-campus activities such as study abroad programs difficult, was identified as an issue the two universities could work together on in order to develop a solution, leading to the genesis of ACE. The ACE program was officially announced in Spring 2015.
Recent Duke graduate and member of the volleyball team, Nelson traveled to South Africa in 2019 with the ACE Program.
"I grew up volunteering and feeling fulfilled through serving with others and I thought ACE would be another similar volunteer experience," Nelson said. "However, the ACE experience has impacted me in ways I never expected. During ACE, I had the opportunity to work with the kids in the Zola Township on sports activities and tutor adults about how to use computers. Yet, it was the selfless way the kids cared for one another during the sports camp that made this experience stand out and shape my career goals. In addition, the other Duke and Stanford participants really became a family to me. We are so grateful for these three weeks and these memorable experiences of love and selflessness that brought us all together."
Nelson enjoys giving back to the community, is involved in ACTION (the first-year student-athlete program at Duke) and describes her trip to South Africa as an "unbelievably fulfilling experience". She is excited to stay connected with ACE and is hoping to go back again soon to continue to serve in the Township.
"I came back and shared a bunch of pictures and stories with my team immediately because they were all already in Durham when I got back," Nelson said. "I always want to put my team and my teammates first and continue to remind myself that they each have a story behind their actions, and you do not always see the full picture. I continue to love on them and share my experiences so we continue to build a strong culture. This year, I am pushing for our team to do much more community engagement."
Nelson plans to continue her education at the University of Southern California where she will pursue a Masters of Science in social entrepreneurship. She will also complete her final year of athletic eligibility with the volleyball squad.
"My ultimate goal is to bring economic growth to these less developed communities and countries around the world by establishing a sports program and teaching life/business skills through it," Nelson said. "My ACE experience really shaped these interests in pursuing this field as an entrepreneurial career."
#GoDuke
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