2020-21 BTC Calendar: Halle Duenkel

As a teenaged entrepreneur, Halle Duenkel (’20) saw gently used sports equipment going to waste among families in her community and started a faith-based endeavor to provide it to disadvantaged young athletes in the Dominican Republic. She brought her ambition to JMU, which, she said, has reinforced “that people matter and that there are needs and opportunities in the world and that you can help at a direct level.” Duenkel, part of the 2018 National Championship Lacrosse Team, found JMU to be a perfect match for her high standards. “I think JMU helped me grow to be the best version of myself — being on the lacrosse team, in the business school, in the Honors College, in Greek life, studying abroad — JMU helped me grow in so many ways. Putting it all together was the perfect college experience.”