Duke’s Rubenstein Student-Athlete Civic Engagement Program marked its 11th straight year of summer service work by sending 11 student-athletes to Panama for an eight-day project centered on youth development and sports enrichment.
The international program, which ACE says is fully funded for selected Duke student-athletes, is built around immersive service experiences with community-based organizations. Duke says the effort reflects the university’s mission of public service and international engagement, and that it remains the only international community engagement program designed specifically for D-I student-athletes on this scale. The program is supported by David Rubenstein’s generous support and Duke Athletics Ticket Sales.
This year’s group, drawn from five different sports teams, logged more than 220 combined service hours. Their work focused on an after-school volleyball camp for children in two rural communities in Coclé, Panama.
The student-athletes were split into two groups and worked at Escuela de Coca and Escuela Toabre, where they planned lessons, taught volleyball, and spent time with local community members. The week ended with a competition day between the two schools, with parents, family, and other community members on hand. The ACE team coached and played with their respective schools during the event.
After the competition, community members from the Tambo and Monte Grande schools hosted a “despedida,” or “goodbye” celebration for the ACE group and the students. The event included Panamanian food and traditional dances performed by the children. School leaders, students, and ACE participants then exchanged thanks in photos and speeches in Spanish.
The Panama trip also included time beyond the courts. On their final day, the group visited Casco Viejo, Panama City’s historic district, before heading to the Panama Canal.
There, they learned about the canal’s history and construction and saw the Miraflores Locks in action. The program closed with a final discussion about the experience, including what it means to be global citizens and Duke student-athletes.
The 2026 ACE group included CJ Campbell of football; Evan Coles and Riley Rowan of wrestling; Samantha Courtwright, Madison Foxhoven, and Molly Vapensky of women’s soccer; Mailinh Godschall and Taylor Williams of volleyball; Avery Hillier and Tierney Lenahan of women’s swimming and diving; and Owen Waibel of men’s swimming and diving.
One of the student-athletes, from wrestling, said the trip’s biggest takeaway was the relationships built with the children and with fellow Duke athletes. “Looking back on my ACE experience in Panama, what stands out most are the connections I made with both the kids and the other Duke student-athletes on the trip.
Whether we were playing games, helping with activities, or simply spending time together, I was amazed by how quickly the kids welcomed us and how eager they were to learn from people they had never met before. Their curiosity, enthusiasm, and positive attitudes made every day rewarding and reminded me how meaningful even small interactions can be.
As a member of the Duke Wrestling team, I also appreciated the opportunity to build friendships with student-athletes from other sports, something that doesn't happen often during the school year. This experience gave me a greater appreciation for the power of service, the importance of stepping outside my comfort zone, and the lasting impact that genuine connections can have, and I know I'll carry those lessons with me both as a student-athlete and in my future career.”
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