High school students in the Austin area can now benefit from a nationwide program designed to introduce them to the wide range of career opportunities open to young people in architecture, construction, engineering, and related areas of the building design and construction industry. At weekly meetings, student teams work directly with professionals from leading area firms, who volunteer their time to mentor the teams as they design hypothetical projects, tour local construction sites, and visit architectural, engineering and construction offices.
For students, it’s a unique chance to discover and develop new skills, solidify future goals and get on track to exciting, rewarding careers. In addition, many students form positive relationships with industry professionals who can provide important references for obtaining college admissions, scholarships, internships and full-time employment.
Students in the ACE program typically work closely with their mentors on projects that provide hands-on experience in solving the types of design, engineering and construction challenges industry professionals confront every day. The teams often learn how to use advanced computerized tools, such as AutoCAD, while special exercises and activities illustrate the industry’s demand for young people skilled in math, physics, economics, art and other disciplines. Many ACE affiliates culminate their program year with special events at which teams present their concepts to mentors, families, teachers and community leaders.
The ACE Mentor Program Austin is a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3). The program runs solely on sponsorships and local volunteers; your donations help fund our weekly sessions, scholarships, and overall program costs. While ACE is nationwide, 2016 was the Austin chapter’s inaugural year, and we can use all the help we can get! If you would like to make a monetary donation to the ACE Austin program, please make checks payable to “ACE Mentor Program of Austin” and mail it to “ACE Mentor Program of Austin” and mail it to PO Box 1562, Austin, TX 78767 or make an online donation through the link below. Contact Justin Brodnax with any questions or concerns.
