About Us

The ACE Mentor Program is a unique partnership among local high schools and design and construction professionals. The ACE Mentor Program creates opportunities for architects, engineers, and construction managers to interact with interested high school students and encourage them to pursue careers in the construction industry through mentoring and scholarship awards.

In the ACE sessions, students meet with construction industry professionals who fulfill the role of mentors, guiding the students through the various facets of the design and construction process. The objective of the sessions is for the students to learn basic concepts about the planning and design of the built environment, to open their eyes to the world around them, and to prompt them to ask questions about things they see in buildings, on bridges and streets or elsewhere in their environment.

Beginning with just two schools, 40 students, and 32 mentors, the ACE Mentor Program of Indiana has grown into a highly sought-after program in Central Indiana, now serving more than 100 students across six teams with support from 50+ mentors. In 2026, we awarded $70,000 in scholarships to Indianapolis youth, bringing our total scholarship awards to more than $1 million for Central Indiana students.

Donate to ACE Indianapolis

ACE Mentor Program of Indiana, Inc. is a registered nonprofit 501(c)(3). Donations help pay for scholarships, field trips, and overall program administration. If you would like to make a monetary donation to the ACE Indianapolis program make checks payable to “ACE Mentor Program of Indiana” and mail it to Chad Schenkel, ACE Mentor Program, C/O Crowe, 3815 River Crossing Parkway, Suite 400, Indianapolis, IN 46240-7767 
 or make an online donation. Contact Chad Schenkel with questions or concerns.