A Celebration of Chelsea’s Legacy

Honoring the Legacy of Chelsea Decaminada 

Chelsea Decaminada was a compassionate leader and a dedicated advocate for international service. As a participant in the 2013 DukeEngage-Kolkata program, she worked alongside fellow DukeEngagers and local nonprofits to support youth and children with special needs. After graduating from Duke in 2015 with a degree in Public Policy and International Comparative Studies, she continued her commitment to service as a Peace Corps volunteer in Tanzania.

Chelsea’s journey was one of unwavering dedication to making the world a better place. She was on assignment in Sri Lanka for the U.S. Department of Commerce when she was critically injured in the Easter Sunday terrorist attacks on churches and hotels. She passed away on May 4, 2019.

 

Chelsea Decaminada Memorial DukeEngage Fellowship

In honor of Chelsea’s passion for global engagement, her family—along with more than 100 donors—established the Chelsea Decaminada Memorial DukeEngage Fellowship. This fellowship provides an opportunity for students who have successfully completed an international DukeEngage program to deepen their impact through a second summer of immersive work abroad.

Fellows receive $6,000 in funding to pursue one of the following:

• Working in the same region but with a different organization in a related sector.
• Expanding on their project theme in a new international location.

Preference will be given to solo projects, though teams of two will also be considered. Recipients will be invited to share their experiences at the fall DukeEngage Reunion, continuing Chelsea’s legacy of service, learning, and connection across borders.

Through this fellowship, Chelsea’s spirit of generosity, courage, and global citizenship lives on—empowering the next generation to serve with the same dedication and heart that she embodied.

Please confirm your project with DukeEngage prior to starting your application to ensure it aligns with the program parameters.

Eligibility

• Duke undergraduate students who completed an international DukeEngage program.
• Graduating seniors are not eligible to apply.

Program Expectations

• Projects must be on site for eight consecutive weeks.
• Students must commit to at least 35-40 hours per week with an established community organization.
• During the semester following the summer experience, Fellows may be asked to participate in 1-2 events.
• Fellows will be expected to present their projects at the DukeEngage Fall Reunion.

 

2024 Decaminada Memorial Fellow

Dhruv Rungta ’26, a 2023 DukeEngage Costa Rica participant, was the Decaminada Memorial DukeEngage Fellow in 2024. For his Decaminada fellowship, Dhruv was a part of an interagency team between the FBI, EPA, and DOJ that focused on investigating high profile environmental crimes flagged for environmental justice concerns. Contributing to the mission of bringing justice to communities impacted by environmental exploitation (think poisoned drinking water, toxic waste dumping near preschools and cancer hotspots) and historically overlooked by the federal government meant a lot to Dhruv. He writes, “My experience working with my community partner during DukeEngage Costa Rica last summer gave me invaluable skills and perspective, allowing me to address large-scale community issues more effectively during my fellowship this summer at the Department of Justice.”