Rubenstein Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program Celebrates Tenth Team of ACE Student-Athletes

Rubenstein Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program Celebrates Tenth Team of ACE Student-Athletes

4/30/2025 1:00:00 PM | Cross Country, Fencing, Field Hockey, Football, Rowing, Women's Golf, Women's Lacrosse, Women's Soccer, Wrestling, Swimming & Diving, Track & Field, Volleyball, Athletics

ACE Program Meet the Participants Hear from ACE Alum Ellie Coleman

DURHAM, N.C. - Spanning a decade of programming, the Rubenstein Student-Athlete Civic Engagement (ACE) Program continues its mission to provide Duke student-athletes with transformative international experiences. This summer, 36 Duke student-athletes will participate in service programs in Panama, Costa Rica and South Africa, joining a community of more than 315 student-athletes who have participated in ACE programs during the last decade.

To mark this milestone, ACE is celebrating with the theme: "10 Years, One Mission," highlighting Duke Athletics' continued commitment to this one-of-a-kind initiative in Division I Athletics. More information about the anniversary celebrations is available on the ACE website.

Made possible by the generous support of David Rubenstein and contributions from Duke Athletics ticket sales, the ACE program provides full-funding for Blue Devils to engage in summer service and leadership experiences with communities around the world.

"We are excited to kick off this very special 10th year of ACE under the unifying theme of '10 Years, One Mission.' All who have touched this program over the last decade – our student-athlete participants, our athletics department colleagues, our campus partners, our communities who have hosted and welcomed our student-athletes, and our donors – have witnessed what an incredibly special program this is," said Emily Durham, ACE Program Director. "Amid our ever-changing world, ACE continues to stay true to providing our student-athletes with incredibly transformative international experiences that would otherwise be inaccessible due to their athletic schedules and training requirements. We are grateful to launch our 10th summer with the incredible support of so many who make ACE possible."

ACE SUMMER 2025 EXPERIENCE:
Thirty-six Duke student-athletes have been selected for the ACE Summer 2025 programs, representing 16 Duke teams. Participants will engage in service projects that focus on community development, conservation and environmental sustainability, education, coaching and more. During their programs, student-athletes will collaborate on team-based service projects with international community-based organizations, build relationships across the Duke Athletics student-athlete community and enhance their personal leadership development.

ACE in Panama
May 4 – May 12
For the second year, student-athletes will plan and facilitate an after-school sports youth camp focused on volleyball in two rural Panamanian communities. The program will promote leadership skills and teamwork among the participants. The student-athletes will be based in the small town of Valle de Anton and will visit the local "mariposa" (butterfly) haven. The week will conclude with a friendly volleyball competition between the participating schools, followed by a day in Panama City touring the Casco Viejo (historic city center) and visiting the Panama Canal.
ACE in Costa Rica
June 14 – June 28
For the third year, student-athletes will engage in conservation-focused projects in the Costa Rican village of Gandoca, promoting wildlife conservation and sustainable resource use. Projects include assisting in the maintenance of local organic cocoa farms, conserving the sea turtle population through beach clean-ups and night patrols, and supporting mangrove reforestation. Cultural enrichment activities include visiting Sepecue, an indigenous community; hiking through the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge and Cahuita National Park; and taking Spanish language lessons.

ACE in South Africa
June 28 – July 18
ACE in South Africa, the longest-running program location, has been continuously offered since the program's inception. Student-athletes will partner with VUSA Rugby and Learning Academy, where student-athletes will teach English at two Early Childhood Development (ECD) centers and coach youth at VUSA's after school sports program. Student-athletes will also support Ladles of Love, an organization focused on addressing food access and insecurity in the local area. Educational trips will explore the history of Apartheid through visits to Robben Island and the District 6 Museum and environmental features like Table Mountain and Cape Point Peninsula.

After their ACE experiences, student-athletes can join the ACE Ambassador program, a year-long leadership opportunity for returning ACE alums. Twenty-six past ACE participants volunteered as ACE Ambassadors during the 2024-2025 academic year.
For additional details, visit the program website: www.ace.duke.edu.

MEET THE ACE 2025 STUDENT-ATHLETES

Ryan Degyansky ('27) – Football | ACE in Panama
Caroline Dysart ('28) – Women's Soccer | ACE in Panama
Madison Foxhoven ('27) – Women's Soccer | ACE in Panama
Kaelyn Gridley ('26) – Women's Swimming & Diving | ACE in Panama
Avery Hamlin ('28) – Volleyball | ACE in Panama
Emily Kantner ('27) – Women's Swimming & Diving | ACE in Panama
Martina Peroni ('26) – Women's Swimming & Diving | ACE in Panama
RJ Rowan ('27) – Wrestling | ACE in Panama
Julia Saunicheva ('26) – Women's Soccer | ACE in Panama
Milo Shue ('27) – Men's Swimming & Diving | ACE in Panama
Johrdyn Tarpeh ('26) – Women's Track & Field | ACE in Panama
Avari Wang ('27) – Women's Swimming & Diving | ACE in Panama
Elisabeth Driscoll ('28) – Women's Track & Field | ACE in Costa Rica
Lindsay Hausman ('27) – Women's Track & Field + Cross Country | ACE in Costa Rica
Lauren Ingram ('27) – Volleyball | ACE in Costa Rica
Maggie Kondrath ('27) – Field Hockey | ACE in Costa Rica
Isaac Lief ('28) – Men's Fencing | ACE in Costa Rica
Vanessa Lin ('27) – Women's Fencing | ACE in Costa Rica
Ethan Mindlin ('28) – Men's Swimming & Diving | ACE in Costa Rica
Riley Newport ('27) – Men's Track & Field + Cross Country | ACE in Costa Rica
Will Skelly ('26) – Men's Track & Field + Cross Country | ACE in Costa Rica
Eliza Straayer ('27) – Rowing | ACE in Costa Rica
Morven Thomson ('26) – Rowing | ACE in Costa Rica
Noga Zilberberg ('27) – Women's Swimming & Diving | ACE in Costa Rica
Kaiya Chepow ('27) – Field Hockey | ACE in South Africa
Nick Falk ('26) – Men's Track & Field + Cross Country | ACE in South Africa
Harrison Green ('28) – Men's Track & Field | ACE in South Africa
Peyton Hollis ('28) – Women's Track & Field + Cross Country | ACE in South Africa
Ella Johns ('27) – Women's Track & Field + Cross Country | ACE in South Africa
Keira Lu ('28) – Women's Swimming & Diving | ACE in South Africa
Owen Markowitz ('28) – Men's Swimming & Diving | ACE in South Africa
Ali Pfaff ('27) – Women's Swimming & Diving | ACE in South Africa
Hattie Reynolds ('27) – Women's Track & Field + Cross Country | ACE in South Africa
Emily Royce ('28) – Women's Track & Field | ACE in South Africa
Ellie White ('27) – Women's Lacrosse | ACE in South Africa
Martina Yu ('28) – Women's Golf | ACE in South Africa

Quotes from the 2025 Selected ACE Participants
Quotes from all 2025 participants are available upon request and can also be found on the students' participant profiles: https://ace.duke.edu/participants/.

"While participating in ACE is partially about me taking a moment to give back through sport, I believe this experience will have an even greater impact on me. I'm excited to build new cross-cultural connections and have an impact on a community different from my own. I'm also excited to have fun and build lasting friendships."
Kaelyn Gridley, Women's Swimming and Diving, ACE in Panama

"Participating in ACE in Panama is worth it to me because it allows me to use sports to make a meaningful impact while developing leadership, adaptability, and cross-cultural communication skills. I'm most excited about connecting with young athletes, learning from their perspectives, and growing in ways that will make me a better teammate, leader, and person."
Caroline Dysart, Women's Soccer, ACE in Panama

"The combination of forging lasting relationships with fellow student-athletes while also learning about another culture and way of life is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I cannot pass up."
Ryan Degyansky, Football, ACE in Panama

"ACE stood out as a unique opportunity, unlike traditional summer experiences, in that it allows you to blend community service, international travel, and athletics, all while expanding one's worldview and developing character in the process."
Isaac Lief, Men's Fencing, ACE in Costa Rica

"Participating in ACE in South Africa is a unique and invaluable opportunity to work alongside fellow student-athletes who share the same passion and deep commitment to service, leadership, and global engagement. I'm most excited to immerse myself in Cape Town's communities—deepening my understanding of global issues, embracing new cultures, and building meaningful, lasting friendships along the way."
Martina Yu, Women's Golf, ACE in South Africa

"Participating in ACE in South Africa is a phenomenal chance to go abroad and explore new perspectives. Without ACE, I wouldn't have the opportunity to go abroad during my time at Duke."
Ali Pfaff, Women's Swimming and Diving, ACE in South Africa

LEARN MORE:

Instagram: DukeACE; @ACEAthletes
Twitter: Duke ACE Program; @ACEAthletes
Facebook: Rubenstein Student-Athlete Civic Engagement (ACE) Program
YouTube: Rubenstein Student-Athlete Civic Engagement (ACE) Program
LinkedIn: Rubenstein Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program (ACE)
Summer 2025 Hashtags: #ACEathletes, #ACEinPanama, #ACEinCostaRica, #ACEinSouthAfrica, #10years1mission
For more quotes and information about the 2025 participants, please see each student-athlete's profile page on the ACE website: https://ace.duke.edu/participants/

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