Several members of the Duke women's soccer team turned their summer break into a period of professional exploration, each taking on internships that span health care, finance, law and veterinary medicine.
Kaeden Koons-Perdikis, a rising senior, spent weeks shadowing physicians at Duke University Hospital as part of the university's CAPE program, where she observed clinical rounds, assisted in surgical suites and got a front‑row view of everyday medical practice.
Phoebe Goldthwaite, another team member, entered the Harris Williams Investment Banking M&A Boot Camp, an intensive week‑long immersion that introduced her to the mechanics of mergers and acquisitions, advisory services and private‑capital transactions.
Bianca Dominguez traveled to San Francisco to join the San Francisco Bar Association’s SIJS Internship, where she worked alongside attorneys representing immigrant youth in Special Immigrant Juvenile Status cases, gaining courtroom‑ready experience.
Kosette Koons-Perdikis, the younger sister of Kaeden, interned at the Potomac Animal Hospital in Maryland, where she learned to administer injections and vaccines, insert catheters and even intubate small animals, experiences that blended classroom theory with hands‑on veterinary work.
These placements illustrate a growing trend among collegiate athletes who, through structured programs, are able to translate the discipline of sport into real‑world career pathways, while also contributing to diverse fields that benefit from their unique perspectives.
Beyond the Field: Building Skills for the Future
The initiatives that connect students with such opportunities are often housed within the universities themselves, leveraging alumni networks and industry partners to create pipelines that benefit both participants and host organizations.
For many, the experience is more than a résumé bullet; it is a chance to test interests, develop professional habits and build relationships that may shape future employment.
As the summer draws to a close, the student‑athletes return to campus with a clearer sense of direction, ready to bring the lessons learned from hospital corridors, boardrooms and veterinary clinics back to the soccer pitch.