ACE in India 2016 alum and former Duke Women’s Lacrosse player Michelle Staggers was named a recipient of the ACC UNITE Award, an honor established to recognize individuals affiliated with the ACC who have made significant contributions to racial and social justice. This award is part of the ACC’s Committee for Racial and Social Justice initiative.
The mission of ACC UNITE is to promote racial equality and justice through education, partnerships, engagement, and advocacy. The award recipient exemplifies this mission and has made a lasting impact by improving systems, policies, and attitudes.
During her time at Duke, Michelle was a passionate advocate for Black student-athletes. As a junior, she co-founded the United Black Athletes (UBA), creating a supportive space for Duke’s Black student-athletes. She also participated in a panel discussion titled “The History of Black Student-Athletes and Activism at Duke,” where she shared her experiences as a student-athlete activist alongside Claudis Claiborne, Duke’s first Black student-athlete. Additionally, she developed a thesis on the history of Black male student-athletes at Duke, which earned her the Winfred Quinton Holton Prize for Educational Research.
Beyond her contributions to the Black student-athlete community, Michelle participated in ACE in India in 2016, the program’s first year. Through the ACE program, she taught and coached young children at the Vidya School in Delhi, focusing on education and leadership development through sports and English lessons.
Michelle has left a lasting impact on both the Duke and ACE communities, and we are proud of all she has accomplished and continues to achieve!