When a catastrophic 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in January 2010, thousands of lives were upended in an instant. Among those caught in the devastation was Djouvensky “Ben Ben” Schlenbaker, a young boy living in a Port-au-Prince orphanage. Orphaned and facing an uncertain future, his story could have ended there. Instead, through adoption, faith, and the unifying power of sports, Djouvensky’s life transformed. Today, he’s a redshirt junior running back for the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) Vaqueros, carrying resilience with every stride.
Djouvensky’s journey began years earlier, when Kendra Schlenbaker, a missionary from Bellingham, Washington, met him during a 2004 trip. She recalls an immediate connection with the infant she affectionately called “Ben Ben.” The bond only deepened when, a year later, she saw him running across a field, called his name, and he sprinted into her arms. “He picked me,” Kendra remembers.
By 2006, the Schlenbakers had started the adoption process—an arduous, three-year journey that required seven trips to Haiti. In late 2009, after redoing lost paperwork, Kendra returned home just weeks before disaster struck. When the earthquake hit, the couple feared the worst. For 24 hours, they did not know if Djouvensky and his sister, Djennika, had survived. With the help of their church and a relief pilot, Brett Schlenbaker flew into Port-au-Prince and brought the siblings to the U.S. Embassy. Soon after, thanks to Kendra’s persistence, the children arrived in Seattle as U.S. citizens.
When Djouvensky landed in the U.S., he spoke no English. But sports quickly became his language. He first excelled in soccer before transitioning to football, basketball, and lacrosse with his adoptive brother, Austin. At Squalicum High School (WA), he emerged as a standout running back, setting the school’s career rushing record with more than 4,000 yards and earning All-State honors.
His talent earned him a scholarship to Washington State University, where he played in 11 games and started three in 2024. But frequent coaching changes led him to transfer. Enter Marco Regalado, now UTRGV’s running backs coach, who knew Djouvensky’s potential and recruited him to Texas.
At 6 feet tall with a bruising running style, Djouvensky has brought grit and determination to the Vaqueros. More than an athlete, he is a symbol of hope and perseverance—a child who once lived through disaster, now running toward opportunity and leadership.
As UTRGV launches its new season, Djouvensky’s journey is more than a sports story. It’s a reminder of how faith, family, and resilience can turn tragedy into triumph. From the rubble of Haiti’s earthquake to the fields of Texas college football, Djouvensky Schlenbaker is proof that hope can rise from hardship.
