Duke ACE Program

The 2026 ACE application is due in one week! Make sure to submit your application and coach recommendation by January 28th at 12 noon EST. Complete your application today on ace.duke.edu

ACE in South Africa Final Reflections - mailchi.mp/e742349b8cf8/2…

ACE in Costa Rica Final Reflections - mailchi.mp/a532975d9be4/2…

Over the past decade, more than 315 student-athletes have engaged in 24 programs across 8 countries, contributing over 23,500 hours of service worldwide. Learn more about the ACE experience — including details and testimonials at ace.duke.edu.

A decade of going beyond the game 🌍 As we honor the 10-year anniversary of the ACE Program, we reflect on its powerful impact—shaping the Duke student-athlete experience through purpose, service, and global connection.

The ACE 2025 application is open! Applications are due January 29, 2025 at 12 Noon EST. Visit ace.duke.edu to learn more about each program and start your application today - submit your application to join the 10th ACE Team!

For Summer 2025, we will return to our program locations and community partners in Panama, Costa Rica, and South Africa! We are excited to offer these programs to @dukeathletics student-athletes who will continue building on last year’s projects.

#ACEinSouthAfrica participant and @dukeswimdive member Josie Zillig writes, “This experience gave me a glimpse of what unity can do. Seeing how the community members of Langa took care of each other, despite the challenging circumstances, was eye-opening.”

#ACEinSA participant and @duketfxc member Sean Morello writes, “I leave Langa knowing that happiness is a choice. The beauty of our lives is in that each is unique and irreplicable. Many of our new young friends in Langa greet each day with open arms and a smile on their faces.”

#ACEinSA participant and @dukefh member Brynn Crouse writes, “I cannot forget about my ACE group that I was lucky enough to meet and learn about on this journey. These were some of my favorite people I met along the way, and I am grateful to have eleven new friends at Duke."

#ACEinSouthAfrica participant and @dukeswimdive member Madeline Meredith shares “This experience has left me with an eternal sense of gratitude and love for the people in Langa. I left the community with an amount of lessons learned in three weeks to last a lifetime.

#ACEinSouthAfrica participant and @duketfxc member Jeremy Kain shares, “Seeing the kids thrive and smile regardless of whatever circumstance they found themselves in certainly made me realize it takes very little to change your attitude about something."

@dukerow member Vaya Chhabra shares “Smaller acts, no matter what they are, are worth their weight in gold. While the moments I shared didn’t involve grand gestures, they carried immense significance."

#ACEinSouthAfrica participant and @dukefen member Monica Balakrishan writes, “Encouraging kids to take up sports and academics and keep a balance between the two allows them to have goals and achieve big things in life. It keeps them proud of their families and who they are. ”

@dukefh member Macy Szukics shares, “ACE helped shape my perspectives about other cultures and communities, allowed me to cherish the things I call my own, showed me how rewarding it is to help others and build connections, and strengthened my ability to adapt.”

#ACEinSouthAfrica participant and @dukerow member Erin Temple writes “Teammates, family members, and loved ones: so many people will hear about this trip, so I’m so grateful that I have such good experiences to share with them."

#ACEinSouthAfrica participant and @duketfxc member Thaïs Rolly shares her experiences with the ACE team and the children they worked with: “My main takeaway has been that kindness is priceless. It’s never guaranteed, yet so easy to give and can completely change a community.”

#ACEinSouthAfrica participant and @dukeswimdive member Tatum Wall shares, "While our purpose in the Early Childhood Development centers was to teach English and support the teachers at these crowded schools, I saw another unexpected benefit: the exchange of ideas.”

As ACE Summer 2024 comes to a close, we want to thank our community partners, our many campus partners, @dukeathletics, David Rubenstein, and our ACE participants for making this summer so special. Read the full press release here: ow.ly/iEmZ50T5gL4

As ACE Summer 2024 comes to a close, we want to thank our community partners, our many campus partners, @dukeathletics, David Rubenstein, and our ACE participants for making this summer so special. Looking forward to re-engaging with our #ACEathletes this fall!