Photo by: GoDucks.com
Courts for Kids Project Expands Ducks' Horizons
07/13/26 | Women's Beach Volleyball, O Heroes
Beach volleyball student-athlete Gwen Fife relates the lasting impact of the UO athletic department's summer service trip to the Dominican Republic.
"Ah-reh-nah! Ah-reh-nah! Ah-reh-nah!"
It's been two weeks since I and more than a dozen other UO student-athletes returned from the athletic department's annual service trip through Courts for Kids. Still, I can hear the shouts of the community of Guarante as we filled hundreds of buckets of sand ("Ah-reh-nah!") for the concrete mix that would form the surface of the community's new sports court.
For a week, we worked together and we laughed together. The language barrier never got in the way of the work. and definitely not the laughs.
This year's Courts For Kids experience in the Dominican Republic was truly the opportunity of a lifetime. I'm still struggling to find the words to describe how this experience made me feel, but I know my heart has softened, my face hurts from smiling so much and our group of student-athletes and staff has forever been changed for the better.
We began this experience knowing we would be building a sports court, but once we arrived and started working alongside the community, three days of work felt like just a few hours. The connections we built started on day one. Together we worked toward a common goal: creating a space where these kids can experience the joy, connection and memories that sports gave us growing up.
After three days of work, we were done! I will forever remember how excited the kids were as they begged Trent Ferguson from football to spin them around, and Cassidy Cu from acrobatics and tumbling to join in the silly dance circles.
The dance culture there was definitely a highlight for everyone! We learned Bachata on the first night we arrived and from that moment on, the dancing never really stopped. Some of my favorite memories were staying up late, dancing and playing dominoes with all the new friends we made. It was so amazing to get to experience that part of their culture firsthand.
Another highlight was serving with my Beach Volleyball teammates Macy and Ally and our coach Danny. That time spent serving together only brought us closer and made me realize again how fortunate I am to be part of this team. We came home with full hearts and so many great memories. This trip really showed what we're building at Oregon Beach Volleyball. We're creating a team that's built on connection, service and always showing up for each other. I'm so excited to see what we will accomplish together.
One of my favorite memories happened one night in the schoolyard outside where we were staying. I was doing some band exercises when a little girl and her brother wandered over to see what I was doing.
They both wanted to try the resistance bands. Her brother jumped right in, but she hung back. You could tell she wanted to try them, but just wasn't quite sure of herself. I kept encouraging her and after a little while she finally stepped up and gave it a shot.
When she was done, I smiled at her and said, "¡Fuerte!" Her face instantly lit up. She pointed to herself with the biggest smile and proudly repeated that she was strong. It was such a simple moment but one I'll never forget. To see a young girl gain confidence, see her own strength and feel empowered to step outside of her comfort zone is something I will always remember.
I wanted to hear softball player Regan Legg's perspective on the trip, so I asked how the experience impacted her: "This experience allowed me to truly appreciate the small things in life. It was so refreshing to be off our phones for the entirety of the trip. Not only did we all make meaningful relationships with the locals but also with each other. I formed genuine relationships with some of the best people I have ever met in my life. The amount of joy and love that we brought each other was amazing. This experience has allowed me to grow and experience a level of happiness I didn't know I was missing."
This project was about more than building a court for kids. The kindness and generosity of the community left a lasting impression and served as a reminder that the relationships we create are often the best part of the work we do.
A special thank you to everyone who helped make this experience possible. I'm so grateful for all the support, time and effort that's gone into making this happen. Experiences like these are a reminder of how special it is to be an athlete at the University of Oregon, and I feel so fortunate to be part of something that extends far beyond the court.
It's been two weeks since I and more than a dozen other UO student-athletes returned from the athletic department's annual service trip through Courts for Kids. Still, I can hear the shouts of the community of Guarante as we filled hundreds of buckets of sand ("Ah-reh-nah!") for the concrete mix that would form the surface of the community's new sports court.
For a week, we worked together and we laughed together. The language barrier never got in the way of the work. and definitely not the laughs.
This year's Courts For Kids experience in the Dominican Republic was truly the opportunity of a lifetime. I'm still struggling to find the words to describe how this experience made me feel, but I know my heart has softened, my face hurts from smiling so much and our group of student-athletes and staff has forever been changed for the better.
We began this experience knowing we would be building a sports court, but once we arrived and started working alongside the community, three days of work felt like just a few hours. The connections we built started on day one. Together we worked toward a common goal: creating a space where these kids can experience the joy, connection and memories that sports gave us growing up.
After three days of work, we were done! I will forever remember how excited the kids were as they begged Trent Ferguson from football to spin them around, and Cassidy Cu from acrobatics and tumbling to join in the silly dance circles.
The dance culture there was definitely a highlight for everyone! We learned Bachata on the first night we arrived and from that moment on, the dancing never really stopped. Some of my favorite memories were staying up late, dancing and playing dominoes with all the new friends we made. It was so amazing to get to experience that part of their culture firsthand.
Another highlight was serving with my Beach Volleyball teammates Macy and Ally and our coach Danny. That time spent serving together only brought us closer and made me realize again how fortunate I am to be part of this team. We came home with full hearts and so many great memories. This trip really showed what we're building at Oregon Beach Volleyball. We're creating a team that's built on connection, service and always showing up for each other. I'm so excited to see what we will accomplish together.
One of my favorite memories happened one night in the schoolyard outside where we were staying. I was doing some band exercises when a little girl and her brother wandered over to see what I was doing.
They both wanted to try the resistance bands. Her brother jumped right in, but she hung back. You could tell she wanted to try them, but just wasn't quite sure of herself. I kept encouraging her and after a little while she finally stepped up and gave it a shot.
When she was done, I smiled at her and said, "¡Fuerte!" Her face instantly lit up. She pointed to herself with the biggest smile and proudly repeated that she was strong. It was such a simple moment but one I'll never forget. To see a young girl gain confidence, see her own strength and feel empowered to step outside of her comfort zone is something I will always remember.
I wanted to hear softball player Regan Legg's perspective on the trip, so I asked how the experience impacted her: "This experience allowed me to truly appreciate the small things in life. It was so refreshing to be off our phones for the entirety of the trip. Not only did we all make meaningful relationships with the locals but also with each other. I formed genuine relationships with some of the best people I have ever met in my life. The amount of joy and love that we brought each other was amazing. This experience has allowed me to grow and experience a level of happiness I didn't know I was missing."
This project was about more than building a court for kids. The kindness and generosity of the community left a lasting impression and served as a reminder that the relationships we create are often the best part of the work we do.
A special thank you to everyone who helped make this experience possible. I'm so grateful for all the support, time and effort that's gone into making this happen. Experiences like these are a reminder of how special it is to be an athlete at the University of Oregon, and I feel so fortunate to be part of something that extends far beyond the court.
Friday, June 26
Friday, June 26
Thursday, June 25
Monday, June 08
