CALLING ALL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WITH AN INTEREST IN STEAM – SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, ARTS AND MATHEMATICS!

The Lancaster County ACE Mentor Program is excited to announce that registration is open for the 2023-2024 Program. Please share this opportunity with your STEAM Students.

WHAT IS ACE?

ACE – Architecture, Construction, Engineering – is an afterschool program open to high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors. The mission is to engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction, including skilled trades, through mentoring and continued support for their advancement into the industry.

The Lancaster County ACE Mentor Program is part of the ACE Central PA Affiliate. The Team Leaders, Presenters, and Mentors are comprised of local industry professionals who volunteer their time to share their careers and knowledge.

Students are recruited from school districts in Lancaster and adjacent counties to participate in biweekly sessions, where topics such as Civil Engineering, Architecture, Structural Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Construction Management, and Estimating are covered.

Students enrolled in the ACE Mentor Program are broken into teams to complete a design program. At the last session, each team will present their unique design to industry professionals and other teams.

Students who successfully complete the program and associated application are also eligible for scholarships.

WHEN & WHERE?

The 2023-2024 Lancaster County Ace Mentor Program will be held biweekly on Tuesday evenings from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM starting Tuesday, October 10^th, 2023. The entire program is 13 weeks, concluding with Final Presentations on Tuesday, March 26^th, 2024.

After registering, accepted Students will receive the full program schedule with address(es) for sessions at location(s) in Lancaster County. Students are responsible for transportation to the session location(s).

HOW DO STUDENTS REGISTER?

To register, go to www.acementor.org.

1. Click on Students at the top of the page.
2. Click Registration/Login on the left.
3. Past ACE Students can login to their existing account.
   New Students will click the magenta New Student icon at the bottom of the page.
4. Compete the New Member Registration form and click Register.
   Don’t forget your email address and password! We will use this email address to contact you.
   Also, this login provides opportunities to apply for scholarships and reenrollment in future years.
5. Complete all required fields for the School Year Registration, ensuring the Central PA Affiliate and Lancaster County Program are selected.
6. Click Submit when you are done.
7. The final screen includes a Parent Consent form.
   Download this form and submit as indicated on the screen.

Be sure to register by Friday, September 29^th, 2023, for consideration for the 2023-2024 Lancaster County Program.

To help cover administrative costs, a $40 participation fee per Student is requested. Following acceptance into the program, participation fees can be made payable by check to “ACE of Central PA” and include “LANCO” and the Student’s name in the memo line. Payments may be turned in at the Orientation & Kick Off session or sent to:

ACE of Central PA

PO Box 119

Hershey, PA 17033

The participation fee should not be a deterrent from registering or participating in the program. Contact the Lancaster County Program Chair with any concerns.

QUESTIONS?

Questions can be directed to one of the following Lancaster County Program contacts:

School Counselor Assignments have been adjusted for the 23-24 school year. Please check to confirm your School Counselor for 23-24.

Mrs. Basile (ext. 1810) Grades 9-12 A-D

Ms. Wile (ext. 1817) Grades 9-12 E-H

Mrs. Ulmer (ext. 1815) Grades 9-12 I-Mur

Mrs. Long (ext. 1818) Grades 9-12 Mus-Sh

Ms. Best (ext. 1816) Grades 9-12 Si-Tor & ReSET

Mrs. Ostrowski (ext. 1822) Grades 9-12 Tos-Z & E.S.

Let’s go Comets! Get started on your College Essays now!

Below is the complete set of Common App essay prompts for 2023-2024.

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you’ve already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

We will also retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section. Additionally, we are closely following the Supreme Court case on the use of race in admissions. Depending on the outcome, we stand ready to create resources that will help students speak about their lived experiences.

Looking for tips on how to approach the essay? Check out our blog!

Starting your Common App essay can be hard. Jen and Emma are here to help.

This Blues Program will begin in August with the idea that this might be helpful for teens ages 14-18 who may be struggling with the anxiety of the new school year approaching. It will teach coping skills to put into use as they are getting ready to head back to school as well as be a supportive group for the first few weeks of school. It is a virtual group so they can attend from the comfort of their home. Please take care of yourself and consider setting yourself up for success ! Link to sign up is in the flyer below.