Photo courtesy of Duke Athletics.
Congratulations to Eoin Gronningsater and Alyssa Marsh, both ACE in Vietnam 2018 alums, on being named Duke Athletics’ Senior Student-Athletes of the Year.
A two-time Duke fencing captain and two-time All-American in foil, Gronningsater has seen both athletic and academic success throughout his four years as a Blue Devil. He was recently selected a 2020 Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship Award recipient from the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In regards to ACE, Gronningsater shared:
“Participating in ACE was one of the highlights of my Duke experience. The kids that I worked with radiated nothing but positivity despite living in really challenging circumstances, and each and every day they were eager and excited to learn. Coming back to Durham, I was motivated to engage more with the Durham community and find ways to give back. We get everything here at Duke, and it is our responsibility to use our resources for good. ACE motivated me to put my 100% effort into my academic and athletic pursuits because if the students I worked with in Vietnam could bring enthusiasm and positivity everyday, then there was absolutely no reason that I couldn’t do the same. Without a doubt, a great deal of my athletic and academic success is a byproduct of the experiences I had in Vietnam. I will always cherish the memories I made there, and I will carry the lessons I learned with me for the reset of my life.”
Marsh wrapped up an illustrious career in Durham after being a nine-time All-American and serving as a captain of the Blue Devils her sophomore, junior and senior seasons. A four-time NCAA Championships qualifier, Marsh’s five All-America honors for individual events are the most for a Blue Devil women’s swimmer all-time.
In regards to ACE, Marsh shared:
“The ACE program in Vietnam had one of the largest impacts on my personal growth here at Duke. I discovered a passion for education and made some lifelong friends along the way. I’m so grateful that Duke offers a program to its student-athletes that allows them to maintain their athletic progress while engaging in global service. I would encourage all student-athletes at Duke and Stanford to pursue this incredible opportunity.”
To read more about both of their accomplishments: