ACE in Place

STANFORD, Calif. - In its sixth 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 an international community partner.

For the summer of 2021, 30 student-athletes have been accepted to virtual service programs that will support community-based organizations located in South Africa, Peru, Thailand, and Vietnam. In addition to their service projects, student-athletes will engage in reflection with program staff based in-country, participate in immersive virtual cultural enrichment activities, and learn more about the history and issues facing the communities in which they are supporting.
 

2021 Stanford Participants

Summer 2021 programs will require participants to use their teamwork skills to form creative solutions to project work that focuses on areas such as environmental sustainability, public health, education, community development, and wildlife/marine conservation.

"Participating in ACE this summer is worth it to me because building community in the context of global service connects me with selfless individuals who inspire me to make time for what is truly important."
(Laurel Foster, Stanford Women's Sailing, ACE in Vietnam Session II)

Without the travel component, service and supporting community partner organizations is even more central to the ACE experience. Participants will address specific community needs and contribute ideas, time, and project work to organizations committed to making a difference in their respective locations around the world. Collaboration with these organizations will give participants professional and personal experience as well as open doors to future service experiences.

"Participating in the ACE program is something that I have wanted to do since before my time at Stanford even began. I believe it encompasses such a wide variety of experiences and life lessons which only further contribute to it being a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
(Alana Vawter, Stanford Softball, ACE in Place Thailand)

Since 2016, almost 200 Duke and Stanford student-athletes have participated in an ACE summer service experience. To date, 22 Duke and 29 Stanford varsity teams have had ACE participants who have contributed over 13,800 service hours.

WHEN & WHAT ARE THEY DOING?
Participants will work closely with program leaders based across the world who will facilitate team building, encourage meaningful opportunities for group reflection, manage community partner relationships, offer mentorship and support during project work, track project progress, and organize cultural enrichment opportunities.

• ACEinPlace South Africa
  Program dates: June 27 – July 16
  Student-athletes will support wildlife conservation, community development and public health programs in South Africa with a focus on sustainable and ethical initiatives.
• ACEinPlace Thailand
  Program dates: July 25 – August 13
  Student-athletes will support marine conservation, education or public health programs in Thailand through sustainable community development projects and initiatives.
• ACEinPlace Vietnam
  Program dates: June 27 – July 16 & July 25 – August 13 (The same program will run twice.)
  Student-athletes will plan and create content with Vietnamese college students as they teach academics, sports, and life skills at a summer camp for middle school youth in rural Vietnam, with a focus on mentorship and promoting higher education.

LEARN MORE:

• Instagram: DukeStanfordACE; @ACEathletes
• Facebook: Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program; @dukestanfordACE
• Twitter: Duke & Stanford ACE Program; @ACEathletes
• YouTube: Rubenstein-Bing Student-Athlete Civic Engagement (ACE) Program
• ACE Summer 2021 Hashtags: #ACEathletes, #ACEinPlace, #ACEinPlacePeru, #ACEinPlaceSouthAfrica, #ACEinPlaceThailand, #ACEinPlaceVietnam