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Information for Students

The ACE Mentor Program of Greater NY is a free after-school mentorship program to introduce high school students to careers in architecture, engineering, and construction management.

ACE GNY is a full year program running from November through May, with some options for starting in January. Our program is split into teams, with each team having around 25 high school students and 15-20 mentors. Mentors are architects, civil and structural engineers, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers, and construction managers. Mentors lead students through their career pathways, introduce them to foundational knowledge of their industry, and teach students to use design software that they use in their everyday jobs. After the basics, the team works on a mock design project of their choosing to apply what they learned to a real-life situation. In May, you will present your project design to an audience that includes family members, school representatives, mentors, and industry leaders.

Teams meet for about two hours after school at a host firm or university throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, White Plains, and Riverdale. There are also remote team options.

What are the benefits?
  • Deep understanding of the design and construction industry;
  • Firsthand look at professional environment and office life;
  • Connections to alumni and professionals who will continue to provide support and networking during your college years and professional life;
  • Introduction to college programs, degree requirements, and keys to success;
  • Behind-the-scenes access to construction sites;
  • Opportunities for scholarships, internships, and post-college employment;
  • Excellent training in presentation and team building skills.
How do I sign-up?
  1. Register on our Website – Click the yellow button below to register. All high school students grades 9-12 are welcome to register. No prior experience in architecture, engineering, or construction management is required. We do not require applicants to submit grades, recommendation letters, or essays. Make sure you are registering with an email address you check often!
  2. Select Your Team – Starting October, all registered students with signed Parent Consent Forms on file will receive an email with the list of teams to choose from. 
    • You can select a team based on the written descriptions of teams in the email
    • You can attend hte Virtual Team Registration Fair on October 17, meet the participating teams, and decide which team to join.
    • After you select your team, we will email you a confirmation of your selection.
  3. Attend Team Sessions – Mentors will send a welcome email by late October outlining what to expect during the first session. Teams will begin meeting November 2024. There are a handful of teams that will begin meeting January 2025.

Click here to register!

Questions? Email us at GreaterNY@acementor.org!
Ace testimonials ellianys

The Student Experience

One of the best parts of ACE is being surrounded by people that are in the field you are interested in! You can ask questions, build connections and have great support. I have always had an interest in architecture but being part of ACE for 3 years inspired me further and enabled me to see I can produce more than I realized. I feel more confident in my abilities as my experience at ACE provided me with sufficient knowledge to understand the role of an architect. ACE has really been a memorable experience and I’m glad I was able to participate.

- Ellianys Betances (Team 2), Manhattan Bridges High School (Bronx, NY)

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About ACE Greater NY

Founded in 1994 by a group of leading architects, contractors and engineers in New York City, the program has served more than 77,000 students nationwide and over 17,000 students in New York alone. Today, more than 13,000 students and 4,100 mentors participate in ACE each year in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

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