Construction professionals are invited to the ACE Mentor Program of Washington’s annual Scholarship Breakfast at the Seattle Center on Friday, May 9. Eight to ten local high schools seniors who participated in the ACE program this year and are planning to study architecture, construction, or engineering fields in college will be presented with scholarships funded by local firms. The program will include the scholarship winners presenting their team design and construction projects developed this year. The Scholarship Breakfast is the one industry-wide event that features some of the best and brightest high school students heading into the world of architecture, construction, and engineering.

To date, the ACE Mentor Program of Washington has awarded more than $75,000 in scholarships to 35 local students now studying at universities across the country. AGC of America is a sponsor of the ACE Mentor Program nationally. Derek Sparks of the AGC of Washington Education Foundation is a member of the state affiliate. AGC member firms involved with the Washington state program include Lease Crutcher Lewis, Sellen Construction, Turner Construction, Reid Middleton, McKinstry Co., PCL Construction, and BNBuilders.

ACE is the only organization that unites all disciplines in the A/E/C industry with the goal of developing tomorrow’s leaders. Currently, 125 professionals from 37 prominent local firms are doing something about the shortage of staff in the A/E/C industry by introducing high school students to the profession using a proven mentoring approach. Approximately 170 students from 34 area high schools will finish this year’s program.

Corporate sponsorships and individual tickets are available for this function:

• Firms may host a table of 8 with a minimum donation of $500
• Firms may host a table and receive a “named scholarship,” as well as the opportunity to send a firm representative to present the scholarship to the winning student, with a minimum donation of $2,000
• Individuals wishing to contribute to the scholarship fund may purchase a seat for $75
• Special recognition will be given to donations at the $500, $1,000, $2,000, and $5,000 levels

The cost of the scholarship breakfast is being covered by ACE’s Board of Directors, so every dollar from the breakfast will go to the ACE Scholarship Fund.

Tickets are available by contacting Angela Gottula at acementor@mka.com.

The Washington chapter of ACE was founded in 2001 as an affiliate of the ACE Mentor Program of America (www.acementor.org). The mission of the organization is twofold: to enlighten and motivate students toward architecture, construction, engineering, and related careers; and to provide mentoring opportunities for future designers and constructors.