Skip to main content

Even for a pair of twins, Cassidy and Mackenzie Wiley have a lot in common.

The two seniors are teammates on the Stanford Women’s Water Polo team, where Cassidy plays two-meter defender and Mackenzie plays two-meter specialist. They have also formed a common bond of public service through their participation in the Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program (ACE).

ACE is a shared initiative at Stanford and Duke Universities offering three-week, immersive, international service experiences to selected student-athletes from each school. Both Wiley sisters participated in the ACE in India program, Mackenzie in 2017 and Cassidy in 2018.

Reflecting on her choice to apply to ACE in India, Mackenzie said that the program accommodated her water polo schedule, but also that she is interested in exploring education systems in developing countries. “I was eager to go get some firsthand experience in a topic I had researched a great deal,” she added.

student-athlete posing for a group photo with school children

Mackenzie’s ACE in India group coached sports and taught English at VIDYA, an NGO-funded school that seeks to empower low-resourced K-12 students from the Gurgaon community outside New Delhi.

Mackenzie returned to Stanford eager to share her experience of working with underserved New Delhi youth.

“The minute I got home I told Cassidy she should apply,” said Mackenzie. “Even if education is not an interest of yours, the experience in itself was so amazing and eye-opening. I believe that everyone should do something like this [ACE] in their lives.”

Cassidy said that Mackenzie’s positive experience with ACE was an important factor in her decision to apply to the program.

“After Mackenzie returned home from India in 2017, and after hearing her stories, I knew I had to apply to ACE,” said Cassidy. “She had an amazing experience over in India and really encouraged me to apply.”

“The minute I got home I told Cassidy she should apply,” said Mackenzie. “Even if education is not an interest of yours, the experience in itself was so amazing and eye-opening. I believe that everyone should do something like this [ACE] in their lives.”

– Mackenzie Wiley

Cassidy also indicated that the service theme of ACE in India 2018 was especially relevant to her academic interests. “This past summer’s ACE in India was focused on global health, a topic I am very interested in and I’m studying at school,” she said.

Student-athletes on Cassidy’s 2018 program coached sports one day per week at a local school, while also working in smaller groups at several different health-related NGOs the rest of the week. Cassidy worked with the Drug Treatment Centre and Society for Promotion of Youth and Masses (SPYM), a rehab center for adolescent males.

three students holding a t-shirt

“I think that the time at SPYM really changed my perspective,” Cassidy recalled of her experience. “A boy who was about 5’0, and looked to be about 7 [years old], was really about 13. The drugs had stunted his growth.” She added, “It was very difficult to believe that they had ever been addicted to drugs or committed a crime. They were just normal kids that have not been in the best of circumstances.”

Cassidy said that her experience working with vulnerable youth at SPYM led her to alter her academic plans. “After coming back from India, […] I wanted to take classes where I could learn about the international community and how communities work together. I also wanted to add a couple of classes where the focus is on NGOs.”

Reflecting on her own ACE in India experience in 2017, Mackenzie emphasized her appreciation of Indian culture.

“When I got back, my coach had me do a presentation on a theme I learned about in India. I talked about how I learned a great deal about pride and hospitality. Everyone I met was so proud to be from India.”

In order to help Cassidy maximize her ACE experience, Mackenzie provided her sister with some pointers.

“As she was preparing to go, I told her more about what to expect about the heat and the food. […] I also told her to try everything and not to say ‘no’ to anything. She only gets three weeks to take in everything she can about India; she shouldn’t waste any time sleeping.”

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity that I was given. India was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I continue to encourage as many student athletes to apply as possible.”

– Cassidy Wiley

The two sisters kept in touch during Cassidy’s experience, and Cassidy appreciated the understanding ear.

“Throughout the trip we FaceTimed a couple of times,” said Cassidy. “It was nice to be able to tell her stories and tell her where we had been, and for her to know exactly what I was talking about.”

two female twins in swim caps holding flowers at award ceremony

Back at Stanford, Mackenzie and Cassidy have pushed teammates and other student-athletes to consider ACE through their leadership role as ACE Ambassadors. “We have encouraged people to apply to ACE and seek out other opportunities abroad,” said Mackenzie.

Cassidy added, “I’m very grateful for the opportunity that I was given. India was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I continue to encourage as many student athletes to apply as possible.”