Wake Forest Athletics
Deacon Sports Xtra: Demon Deacons Gain Meaningful Experience at 2026 ACC Unity Tour
8/11/2026 8:02:00 AM | General, Men's Soccer, Women's Basketball, Women's Tennis
A group of five partook in the conference’s annual event, held in Washington D.C. this summer.
Making its return for a fifth consecutive summer, the ACC Unity Tour took place last month, bringing together members of the conference's member schools in July. The event has been recognized as a signature initiative of ACC UNITE, embodying league core values with a mission of preparing student-athletes to lead both on campus and in their communities through immersive learning experiences beyond competition. ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips was quoted in describing the Unity Tour as "one of the defining experiences of the conference."
This year's ACC Unity Tour took place in the nation's capital, as institutions sent groups over for a full schedule of events from July 12-15. Being held in Washington, D.C., for the second time in four years, the Unity Tour centered its 2026 focus on areas of sport development and diplomacy. Additionally, opportunities were provided to engage with policymakers, historians and community leaders.
Among a plethora of faces, five Demon Deacons had the privilege of joining in the activity around The District – Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Engagement Dwight Lewis, Assistant Director of Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Success Nia Randall, men's soccer senior defender Travis Smith Jr., women's basketball senior guard/forward Madisyn Jordan and women's tennis senior Aubrey Nisbet.
"Participating in the ACC Unity Tour was an impactful experience for both our student-athletes and our staff," said Lewis. "Being in D.C., and exploring the connection between sport, leadership and public service, reinforced that college athletics is about so much more than competition. The Unity Tour is an extension of the educational mission of college athletics, providing experiences that can't be replicated in a classroom or on the field. I was proud of how our student-athletes represented Wake Forest, as they were engaged, thoughtful, and eager to learn from every opportunity.
"I believe experiences like this challenge them to broaden their perspectives, appreciate the impact they can have beyond athletics, and prepare them to become leaders who make a positive difference in their communities, exhibiting the Pro Humanitate spirit."
Full afternoons of civic engagement, meetings and both social activity and reflection at dinners primarily composed of the three days in Washington, D.C., with the Deacs soaking in all that the Unity Tour had to offer.
In the midst of their schedule, the Wake quintet also had an opportunity to hear from and catch up with one of their own – 2002 women's basketball alum LaChina Robinson. The Emmy Award-winning sports analyst led a media workshop during day two while finding time to catch up with her Deacs, detailing her journey in emerging as one of the most respected voices in women's hoops.
Along with the thought-provoking discussions, the Demon Deacons and others enjoyed taking in sights of surrounding attractions and landmarks.
"We were able to visit places like the National Museum of African-American History, the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Supreme Court," said Nisbet. "[Being on site] made everything we discussed feel much more real and personal."
With a new school year merely weeks away, the three student-athletes have additional insight absorbed from the Unity Tour that can be carried into their respective senior years. Each has played significant roles on their teams while continuing to impress in the classroom as SAAC representatives.
Smith has been a reliable competitor for the men's soccer program since his arrival to Winston-Salem in 2023. He's coming off a junior season in which he was one of four field players to start all of the team's 17 matches. He earned recognition from TopDrawerSoccer during both the preseason and midseason in 2025, landing on its lists of top 100 players. In 2024, he made 21 starts in 22 matches while helping pace the Deacs to their first ACC championship since 2017. He has also been exceptional off the pitch as a three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.
Jordan is entering year four with the women's basketball team, having competed in 88 games throughout her career as a valuable perimeter piece. She has made over 60 three-pointers and ranked fourth on the roster in threes made in each of the last three seasons. Off the court, Jordan has excelled as a three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree and student intern with the fan experience team in the Wake Forest athletics department.
A steady presence for women's tennis since the 2023-24 campaign, Nisbet most recently appeared in a career-best 24 matches this past spring season. Working as a major contributor in doubles, she went on to win six matches with a handful of teammates. Also, during ACC play, the Wilmington, Del., native earned four doubles victories. Renowned as a campus leader among her peers, Nisbet has served as the Wake Forest SAAC President and helped lead a myriad of campus events alongside the Student-Athlete Development staff.
"One of my biggest takeaways from the Unity Tour was the importance of using our platforms as student-athletes to listen, learn and help bring people together," Nisbet noted. "I'm incredibly grateful to the ACC and our Wake Forest Athletics family for giving us the opportunity to have these conversations and experience it as a whole alongside student-athletes from across the conference."
This year's ACC Unity Tour took place in the nation's capital, as institutions sent groups over for a full schedule of events from July 12-15. Being held in Washington, D.C., for the second time in four years, the Unity Tour centered its 2026 focus on areas of sport development and diplomacy. Additionally, opportunities were provided to engage with policymakers, historians and community leaders.
Among a plethora of faces, five Demon Deacons had the privilege of joining in the activity around The District – Associate Athletic Director of Student-Athlete Engagement Dwight Lewis, Assistant Director of Women's Basketball Student-Athlete Success Nia Randall, men's soccer senior defender Travis Smith Jr., women's basketball senior guard/forward Madisyn Jordan and women's tennis senior Aubrey Nisbet.
"Participating in the ACC Unity Tour was an impactful experience for both our student-athletes and our staff," said Lewis. "Being in D.C., and exploring the connection between sport, leadership and public service, reinforced that college athletics is about so much more than competition. The Unity Tour is an extension of the educational mission of college athletics, providing experiences that can't be replicated in a classroom or on the field. I was proud of how our student-athletes represented Wake Forest, as they were engaged, thoughtful, and eager to learn from every opportunity.
"I believe experiences like this challenge them to broaden their perspectives, appreciate the impact they can have beyond athletics, and prepare them to become leaders who make a positive difference in their communities, exhibiting the Pro Humanitate spirit."
Full afternoons of civic engagement, meetings and both social activity and reflection at dinners primarily composed of the three days in Washington, D.C., with the Deacs soaking in all that the Unity Tour had to offer.
In the midst of their schedule, the Wake quintet also had an opportunity to hear from and catch up with one of their own – 2002 women's basketball alum LaChina Robinson. The Emmy Award-winning sports analyst led a media workshop during day two while finding time to catch up with her Deacs, detailing her journey in emerging as one of the most respected voices in women's hoops.
Along with the thought-provoking discussions, the Demon Deacons and others enjoyed taking in sights of surrounding attractions and landmarks.
"We were able to visit places like the National Museum of African-American History, the Holocaust Memorial Museum and the Supreme Court," said Nisbet. "[Being on site] made everything we discussed feel much more real and personal."
With a new school year merely weeks away, the three student-athletes have additional insight absorbed from the Unity Tour that can be carried into their respective senior years. Each has played significant roles on their teams while continuing to impress in the classroom as SAAC representatives.
Smith has been a reliable competitor for the men's soccer program since his arrival to Winston-Salem in 2023. He's coming off a junior season in which he was one of four field players to start all of the team's 17 matches. He earned recognition from TopDrawerSoccer during both the preseason and midseason in 2025, landing on its lists of top 100 players. In 2024, he made 21 starts in 22 matches while helping pace the Deacs to their first ACC championship since 2017. He has also been exceptional off the pitch as a three-time All-ACC Academic Team selection.
Jordan is entering year four with the women's basketball team, having competed in 88 games throughout her career as a valuable perimeter piece. She has made over 60 three-pointers and ranked fourth on the roster in threes made in each of the last three seasons. Off the court, Jordan has excelled as a three-time All-ACC Academic Team honoree and student intern with the fan experience team in the Wake Forest athletics department.
A steady presence for women's tennis since the 2023-24 campaign, Nisbet most recently appeared in a career-best 24 matches this past spring season. Working as a major contributor in doubles, she went on to win six matches with a handful of teammates. Also, during ACC play, the Wilmington, Del., native earned four doubles victories. Renowned as a campus leader among her peers, Nisbet has served as the Wake Forest SAAC President and helped lead a myriad of campus events alongside the Student-Athlete Development staff.
"One of my biggest takeaways from the Unity Tour was the importance of using our platforms as student-athletes to listen, learn and help bring people together," Nisbet noted. "I'm incredibly grateful to the ACC and our Wake Forest Athletics family for giving us the opportunity to have these conversations and experience it as a whole alongside student-athletes from across the conference."
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Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
/ Women's Tennis
Defender
/ Men's SoccerMonday, August 10
Saturday, August 08
Friday, August 07
Thursday, August 06