Portland

Contact ACE Portland

For students, mentors,
educators, applications,
and all other questions:

Mailing Address:
PO Box 15007
Portland, OR 97293

ACE Staff

Kari Smith Haight
Program Manager
(503) 415-0579
Email ACE Oregon

Susan Nielsen
Executive Director
(503) 577-6177
Email ACE Oregon

Ave Rio
Communications and Program Coordinator
Email ACE Oregon

Forms

Parent Consent Form
Field Trip Permission Form
Terms of Scholarship Form
Scholarship Disbursement Form
Scholarship Information

Student Materials

Why Join ACE

Mentor Materials

ACE Mentor Packet
ACE Mentor Flyer

Board of Directors
Our board is comprised of local industry leaders who make a significant contribution to our chapter. We are grateful for their continuing support.
2020-21 Board Members

Follow ACE Oregon

ACE is a FREE after-school program for high school juniors and seniors interested in Architecture, Construction and Engineering (ACE). Student teams collaborate on a building design project under the guidance of industry professionals. ACE also offers college scholarships for seniors and summer camp opportunities for juniors. All ACE meetings will be held virtually this fall and into the 2021 program year as needed, in alignment with current public health guidelines for limiting coronavirus transmission.

ACE STUDENTS gain valuable career skills, network with professionals, and explore ACE careers.

ACE MENTORS give back to their community, inspire the next generation, and attract new talent to the industry.

Click here to download a printable 20-2021 ACE program brochure.

Our Program

Portland’s ACE program runs from January to May every year. Student applications and mentor recruitment start in Fall (August/September) and are usually due in late November (right before Thanksgiving). Acceptance notifications will be emailed in December.

Students are placed on a Tuesday or Thursday team with 10-15 students from different high schools and 7-10 mentors from a mix of architecture, construction, and engineering firms. Teams meet 13 times (once a week or once every two weeks) from 4:30-6:30 pm. Light meals are served at each meeting and supplies are provided. Prior experience and outside homework are not required. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from meetings.

Meetings are held in downtown Portland at ACE mentors’ offices and job sites. Students have the opportunity to visit multiple professional workplaces, learn how to network, and explore career paths within the ACE industry. Teams design a building together, and students present their projects to a large audience at the program finale in May.

Students

The ACE Mentor Program is open to high school juniors and seniors. Outstanding sophomores are occasionally accepted if there is space in the program. Participating students must have at least a 2.0 grade point average, teacher/counselor endorsement, and two full years of math.

Apply Here

Mentors

Are you an architecture, construction, or engineering professional?

Do you want to inspire youth to enter your industry?

Do you want to network and give back to your community?

Mentor volunteers are the lifeblood of our program. Each team of mentors is led by an experienced Mentor Captain. Mentors provide around 26 hours of volunteer time (13 two-hour meetings) and are not required to attend every session. Mentors with offices in or near downtown Portland often provide meeting space for an ACE session.

Apply to be a mentor here!

ACE Scholarships

Each year, the ACE Mentor Program awards scholarships to seniors who are committed to pursuing construction-related careers in college.