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, 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.
Thirty-six Duke student-athletes have been selected for the ACE Summer 2025 programs, representing sixteen Duke teams. Participants will engage in service projects focused 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.
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.
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.
Program Director Emily Durham shares, “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.”
Read the full article from Duke Athletics to learn more about the student-athletes and the details of their programs.
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