ACE Mentor Houston is the local affiliate of the national ACE organization and is a collaborative effort to bring the multifaceted construction industry, educational institutions, and local community together to expose high school students to the world of architecture, construction, engineering, and building trades. In this afterschool mentoring program, student teams work directly with professionals from the A/E/C industry to design hypothetical projects, tour local construction sites, and visit architectural, engineering, and construction offices. The program runs from October to April and is operating with a hybrid program this year with virtual weekly mentor sessions and in-person activities to include site visits, building activities, and architectural walking tours.

For students, it is a unique chance to discover and develop new skills, solidify goals, and get on track towards exciting and 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.

For professionals, ACE provides an opportunity to give back to the community while developing the next generation in the building industry and networking with other professionals who share the same passions. If you would like to get involved in ACE as a mentor, student, industry partner, or committee member, please contact us (//www.acementorhouston.org/). If you have the passion, there is a role for you, no matter your time commitment, availability, or skill set.