Nine Years in the Making

Back in 2004, the ACE (Architecture Construction Engineering) Mentor Program started in Dallas with the goal of providing a free mentorship program for students – introducing them to career paths they may have not seen through their school courses. The mission of ACE is to engage, excite, and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in architecture, engineering, and construction through mentoring and continued support for their advancement into the industry. The program provides students with hands-on experience and guidance from industry professionals, helping them to explore their potential and gain valuable skills.

The ACE Mentor Program of DFW has expanded into Fort Worth and Plano/Frisco, broadening the program’s reach and providing opportunities to more students. The program runs during the school year and meets with students once a week for a two-hour session. Each session typically begins with a presentation, followed by structured activities in small groups. This structure fosters close interactions between mentors and mentees, allowing for personalized guidance and support.

I interviewed Chandler Householder, an ACE Plano/Frisco 2015-2016 alumna, and Carter Moore, an architect with Stantec and an ACE mentor since 2015. The two share a unique journey that continues nine years later. It all started with their experience going through ACE for the first time as a student and as a mentor. This article, the first of a three-part series, will highlight the incredible impact of the ACE Mentor Program and how the unexpected connections made through the program can last a decade.

Setting Expectations

In 2015, Chandler Householder was a high school senior. She joined ACE with the intent of exploring the architecture field and confirming her career aspirations. She had heard about the program through a friend and was eager to take advantage of the opportunity. “I had started my independent study program, so I had already begun my senior year with the intent of exploring the architecture profession. I thought ACE could help confirm that’s what I wanted to pursue in college and for my career.”

Carter Moore, a mentor and now co-lead for ACE Plano/Frisco, was introduced to the program through his work at Stantec. “I had never heard of ACE before I started with Stantec. They kicked it off the year before I started with the firm.” Carter’s enthusiasm for teaching and mentoring came from his family. “I come from a long line of preachers, teachers, and carpenters so that little teaching component tends to come out. Also, being a parent of a middle schooler at that time taught me that every question is a learning moment with my daughter, and I could apply that same idea with ACE students.” For Carter, ACE was a natural extension of his passion for both mentoring and architecture. “Being able to share my excitement and passion for my career [with students]. I thought it was a super cool opportunity, and I was really looking forward to it.”

A Mentor-Mentee Journey

Chandler and Carter’s journey through the ACE Mentor Program was marked by mutual respect and a strong mentor-mentee bond. Carter is known for his approachable yet authoritative demeanor, but he recalled how some students initially found him intimidating. “The number of students that I intimidate in ACE! Just cracks me up…Like how can I intimidate anybody? It’s like, ‘Oh Carter’s in charge.” But that always changed quickly. Chandler admitted “I was intimidated by Carter as a mentor, but I could also tell we got along.”

Chandler described her first ACE session as a collaborative and enthusiastic atmosphere, contrasting with the typical school project where participation was obligatory. “In school, it felt like a lot of people didn’t want to be there. It wasn’t fun. ACE was completely different… It was like a buzz, an anticipation of something new every week and knowing nothing going into it. You could feel the energy building during the lesson and then when we came together as a group – the dynamics of teenagers trying to design something together for the first time… It sparked an energy.”

The program is based around practical, hands-on activities, and collaborative projects. According to Carter “It’s all a big puzzle and like a real project. If I give the electrical engineer too small of a room, we will have to redesign architecturally to make a bigger room… I can’t wait to explain to them how the decisions they made on Week 4 could potentially get derailed on Week 8. During ACE season, I wake up on Friday mornings saying, ‘I can’t wait until next Thursday!’”

Chandler and her cohort spent eight weeks under the guidance of Carter and his fellow mentors (the program is now longer). By the final presentation, both students and mentors have developed a bond that sometimes continues past the sessions. Chandler still stays connected to fellow ACE alumni through social media, and Carter’s inbox is flooded with emails after the sessions end.

Sometimes, the mentorship relationship continues even longer – which is the case for Carter and Chandler. Post-ACE, Carter continued to mentor Chandler for the remainder of her senior year through the Interdisciplinary Study and Mentorship (ISM) program at McKinney ISD. Carter recalled Chandler’s mom finding him at the ISM final presentation night and her sharing with him how special it was that a professional had given so much time to support her daughter in her pursuit of architecture. Chandler laughed, “Yes, my parents still know your name after all these years.”

Continuing the Legacy: From Mentee to Mentor

Chandler’s positive experience with ACE did not end with her high school graduation. She actively sought to continue her involvement with the program as a college student at University of Texas at Austin, both as a participant and a mentor. “One of my mentors at UT was a student mentor in ACE Austin, and she asked if I was familiar with the program. Naturally, I was like ‘oh my gosh!’ I’ve already done ACE as a mentee. Just give me a ride and I’ll be there!” Chandler shared “I knew I wanted to keep pursuing ACE now as a student mentor because I remembered the number one highlight of my week senior year was going to ACE. I really loved the incorporation of college mentors because it gives a unique perspective for students looking to go to architecture or engineering school.”

Chandler’s transition from mentee to mentor highlights the lasting impact of the ACE Mentor Program. It not only helps students explore and confirm their career paths, but also inspires them to give back and mentor the next generation of students. The program’s success is a testament to the dedication and passion of mentors like Carter Moore and motivated students like Chandler Householder, who together create a thriving community of future architects, engineers, and construction professionals.

In the next article, we will continue to follow Carter and Chandler’s journeys through college and the progression of the ACE Plano/Frisco program.

For more information about ACE: https://www.acementor.org/