ACE to increase student enrollment for 2015-2016 school year

The ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program of America, a workforce development organization encouraging youth to pursue STEM-related careers, is poised to enroll and mentor even more students during the 2015-2016 school year. ACE is celebrating its 21st year of preparing students for college and beyond and is in the midst of making exciting new changes — a redesigned website, a new president and CEO, new national sponsors, a new affiliate in Utah and increased support by a broad group of design and construction firm leadership.

“The ACE Mentor Program attracts students to its 35- to 40-hour after-school program who want to reach beyond textbooks and understand real-world applications of their studies,” stated Thomas Gilbane Jr., chairman of the ACE Mentor Program and chairman/CEO of Gilbane Inc.

ACE President and CEO Jack Kalavritinos said quantitative results from two 2015 ACE studies show that:

• 63% of ACE seniors were minority students vs. the national average of 44.3%;
• 98.6% of ACE high school seniors graduate from high school vs. the national average of 80%;
• 92% of ACE seniors entered college directly from high school vs. the national average of 66%; and
• 70% of college-bound ACE seniors major in architecture, engineering or construction management.

“Survey results reveal and validate the important work ACE is doing through its extensive network of affiliates and mentors across the U.S.,” stated Tony Guzzi, ACE vice chairman and President/CEO of EMCOR Group. “The data helps define the immense value of this unique program for high school students, many of whom might not otherwise pursue a college education.”

Peter Davoren, ACE vice chairman and President/CEO of Turner Construction Co., adds: “The secret of the ACE Mentor experience is that students and construction and design professionals work as a team to develop a realistic project that often relates to an actual site. This is possible thanks to the myriad design and construction industry companies supporting ACE.”

The ACE Mentor Program of America was founded in 1994 by the principals of distinguished design and construction firms under the leadership and guiding force of Dr. Charles H. Thornton. Its mission is to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering and construction through mentoring and to support their continued advancement in the industry.

ACE’s 63 affiliates in 34 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico organize 2,000 mentors to deliver a 15-session after-school program to almost 8,000 students. ACE’s sponsors include many of America’s leading companies in the design and construction industry.

To register for the ACE program, to become a mentor or find a local affiliate, visit www.acementor.org.