Media Category: Student-Athlete

Michelle Staggers playing soccer during ACE in India 2016

Mikaela is a Duke sophomore on the women's rowing team and participated in the ACE in Costa Rica 2024 program. She is majoring in biology with minors in statistics and neuroscience. She loved getting to experience the natural beauty as well as the culture of Costa Rica. As a member of the ACE in Costa Rica team, she was able to explore a personal area of interest, marine conservation, through their work with members of the local sea turtle conservation program.

Thaïs Rolly is a sophomore on the women's cross country and track teams at Duke University. In the summer of 2024, she participated in the South Africa ACE program, where she worked with various youth programs in the township of Langa. She helped teach English in Early Childhood Development Centers and assist in running an after-school program that developed youth sport and academic understanding. During her experience, she most cherished the connections made with the local youth and learning about Cape Town's complex history and vibrant culture.

Tatum Wall is a junior on the Women's Swimming & Diving team and participated in the ACE in South Africa program in 2024. Tatum greatly enjoyed supporting the tudents and teachers on her program, especially the young girls in Langa, as she and the team demonstrated that women can be smart, athletic, and capable of achieving anything.

Jeremy Kain is a junior on the cross-country and track teams. He is studying Economics with a concentration in Finance. He participated in the ACE in South Africa program in 2024. As an ambassador, he is excited to educate others about the opportunities that ACE has to offer and how it impacted his life. Jeremy is passionate about how sports can unite communities, creating his own running camp for kids in his town to attend throughout the school year!

Connor Barket is a current Junior on the Men's Wrestling team. He is studying Computer Science and Mathematics. As a part of the ACE in Panama team he found a community of fellow student athletes who developed a passion for community service. Together they founded the Rising Athletes Foundation, helping local high school athletes realize their athletic and academic dreams on the next level.

Monica Balakrishnan is a junior on the Women's Fencing team at Duke from Houston, Texas. She is majoring in Neuroscience and minoring in Political Science and Chemistry and loves meeting new people and hearing their stories. This past summer in 2024 she participated in the ACE in South Africa program and had an unforgettable time experiencing the diverse culture, taking in breath-taking sights and learning about people's journeys.