STANFORD, Calif. – In its fourth year of international service, the Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement (ACE) Program provides one-time funding for accepted Stanford and Duke student-athletes to participate in three-week, immersive summer service experiences with international community partners.
Scheduled to begin on June 15 in South Africa, ACE is a joint collaboration between the Stanford and Duke athletic departments, as well as Haas Center for Public Service at Stanford and DukeEngage at Duke. The program is made possible by the generous supports of David Rubenstein and Peter and Helen Bing.
"For me, ACE represents an amazing opportunity to burst the 'bubble' that I usually inhabit, allowing me to discover a new part of the world and interact with diverse individuals," said Isabelle Pilson, a member of the Stanford field hockey team. "Additionally, I value the chance to challenge myself, grow, and strive to positively impact the world around me."
Student-athletes from both institutions will have the chance to volunteer together in one of four international group programs (South Africa, Vietnam, China and Peru) with diverse service themes including coaching, education, environmental sustainability and conservation, and more.
"As a student-athlete, your day-to-day schedule is extremely busy, and a lot of your time is dedicated to focusing on yourself and how you can get better and perform individually. I think in order to grow as people it is essential to humble yourself, put others first, and use your experiences with sports and adversity to serve others," said Stanford lacrosse player Taylor Scornavacco.
Stanford will be represented by 20 student-athletes across 13 sport programs, with softball and women;s volleyball each sending three student-athletes. For more information visit, www.ace.stanford.edu.
South Africa • June 15 - July 6
| Participant | Year | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Michaela Gordon | '21 | Women's Tennis |
| Hannah Howell | '20 | Softball |
| Caitlin Keefe | '20 | Women's Volleyball |
| Sunny Villapando | '21 | Beach Volleyball |
| Blake Wilson | '22 | Men's Gymnastics |
Student-athletes will assist in running a sports-focused school holiday program for children in the informal community of Nomzamo Township near Gordon's Bay, along with other projects according to local need.
Vietnam • June 20 - July 14
| Participant | Year | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Jenna Gray | '20 | Women's Volleyball/Track & Field |
| Morgan Hentz | '20 | Women's Volleyball/Beach Volleyball |
| Jack Herkert | '21 | Men's Track & Field |
| Isabelle Pilson | '22 | Field Hockey |
| Timothy Sah | '21 | Men's Tennis |
Student-athletes will serve alongside a team of Vietnamese college students, teaching academics, sports, and life skills to middle school youth at a summer camp in rural Vietnam, with a focus on mentorship and promoting higher education.
China • July 13 - August 3
| Participant | Year | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Areta Buness | '19, Co-Term '20 | Lacrosse |
| Jordan Fong | '22 | Women's Track & Field |
| Kate Littlejohn | '22 | Women's Rowing |
| Carolina Sculti | '22 | Women's Swimming & Diving |
| Noah Vigran | '22 | Men's Swimming & Diving |
Student-athletes will coach sports camps and lead education-focused workshops for local village children in a minority population area near Shangri-La located in Yunnan Province in southwestern China.
Peru • July 20 - August 10
| Participant | Year | Sport |
|---|---|---|
| Emily Klingaman | '22 | Softball |
| Kelsey McGinley | '22 | Women's Rowing |
| Mia Paulsen | '21 | Women's Swimming & Diving |
| Emily Schultz | '22 | Softball |
| Taylor Scornavacco | '21 | Lacrosse |
Student-athletes will promote environmental sustainability through water conservation infrastructure projects and broad-based education in communities surrounding Cusco, Peru.