This is part of a series highlighting recent ACE participants who are finding meaningful ways to connect and build on their ACE experience beyond their ACE summer program. After student-athlete participants complete their ACE summer, they are encouraged to think about a specific goal that connects their ACE experience to their life in a meaningful way. ACE staff support this process through the development of a personal ACE Action Plan and 1-1 coaching, group meetings, and check-ins throughout the year.
After participating in the ACE in Costa Rica program in 2024, Sydney Smith returned to campus and wanted to focus her Action Plan on bringing Duke Student-Athletes and Durham grade school students together. She found the opportunity to do so by creating a sports clinic at the Emily K Center, a a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the academic success and personal development of students in the Durham area.
When reflecting on what inspired her Action Plan, Sydney shares, “While I was in Gandoca, Andrey, our program director, shared with us that we provided the village with more than our sustainability and conservation efforts. As student-athletes, we showcased a higher level of education and sports for Gandoca’s children and all the hard work it takes to get there. With this sentiment in mind, I collaborated with the Emily K Center during one of their Open Gym Days to host a clinic where grade-school students could engage with collegiate student-athletes.”
“In the one-hour session, our group interacted with around 50 students. We played many games, introduced them to our respective sports, shared how we came to love our sport, and answered all their questions. I hope to continue showing the younger generation that they, too, can be student-athletes!” Sydney was supported by six other Duke student-athletes at the clinic”
In preparing and planning for this event, Sydney shares, “I knew that the Emily K Center has different programs depending on the age of their scholars, so I browsed through their website to identify the middle school-aged children. I wanted to work with younger, but still mature children because that’s when I remember sports getting more serious for me. I reached out to the email listed on Pioneer Scholar’s page, asking if they would be willing to collaborate with me and host a clinic during their Open Gym Day, which is essentially recess for children right after they get out of school. Through that email, I contacted Patrice High, the director of the Pioneer Scholars Team.”
Sydney has already begun envisioning next steps for future clinics, sharing, “For future events, we would love to have more kinds of these clinics or even just casual, scheduled times where student-athletes drop in to engage with the scholars.”