ACE Mentor Program of Rhode Island

Organization: ACE Mentor Program Rhode Island is a mentoring and team-building program for high school students in Rhode Island interested in careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. Founded in 2003-04, ACE RI helps high school students discover how to translate their interests and abilities into exciting, rewarding careers in the building and design industry. Professionals drawn from leading area firms mentor teams of students, explaining the inner workings of their jobs, leading tours of major construction sites and challenging the teams with hands-on design projects. The program also gives students a chance to win college scholarships and cultivate industry contacts that could help them obtain college admissions, internships and full-time positions.

Opportunity: ACE RI's after school program meets once a week from October-March at various locations around the state to work on design challenges. Average teams are composed of 5-10 students and led by their volunteer mentors who are professionals from the build industry. Each team is set up to emulate an actual design team, with students guided through a mock design project by their architect, engineer, construction management, and tradesperson mentors. Mentors assist the students as they work towards a final project, introducing them to the careers, industry vocabulary, and various roles companies play in design and construction.