The Universities at Shady Grove (USG) successfully hosted the second annual Achieving Collegiate Excellence and Success (ACES) Summer Bridge Program from June 16-19, 2015. ACES is the collaborative effort of USG, Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and Montgomery College (MC), which seeks to create a seamless pathway from high school to college completion. ACES focuses on identifying and supporting students who come from backgrounds that are underrepresented in higher education and those who are the first in their family to attend college. Students apply to ACES during their sophomore year and if accepted, are assigned an academic coach during their junior and senior year. A total of 287 rising senior ACES scholars attended last week’s program. Next year, ACES program will include more than 2,000 ACES scholars for the 2015-16 academic year. The USG Summer Bridge program was part of a coordinated summer series offered in conjunction with MC and MCPS for ACES students.
The ACES Summer Bridge program “Why Not You” focused on career preparation and exploration. Students participated in activities that developed leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal skills essential for success in today’s workforce. Students also had the opportunity to participate in a Career Expo, which featured a myriad of career options from local businesses and organizations in Montgomery County.
One exercise required students to write an “elevator speech” pitching why they would be a good fit for their dream job. USG’s Executive Director, Dr. Stewart Edelstein, asked students to deliver their “elevator speeches” to him and then spoke about the importance of career preparation. He asked all students to stand and make a pledge, “I believe in me. I am going to college. I am going to make a difference.”
Guest speakers included Ronnie Galvin, Senior Advisor at the Center for Community Change and Belinda Coleman, President and CEO of The Coleman Group, Inc. and member of the USG Board of Advisors. Galvin spoke about diversity, asking students, “If not us, then who? In not now, then when?” Galvin reflected on the event saying, “The ACES program is important because it opens their minds to the possibilities of academic pursuits after high school. I encourage leaders in the county to continue to raise ACES as a national model and to continue to fund it to meet the demand in the county.”
Coleman spoke to the students about starting a woman owned small business and then reflected, “The ACES Summer Bridge program is the most worthwhile event of the summer for me. These students are amazing and I know they will go on to do great things. I’ve never been more inspired by our future leaders”
Some students commented on the experience:
“ACES helps prepare you for college and for the real world
.” – Victoria Ford
“I learned a lot about myself and what I want to do in the future, which is to become a teacher. ACES will be the pathway to help me achieve my goal.” – Orlando Carrillo-Nolasco
“This has been an amazing experience; I can’t believe how much I learned in such a short time.” – Hawra Al-Jabiri
“This was really fun; I especially enjoyed the Career Expo. I want to study cybersecurity, and learning more about that helped me focus on the direction I need to go.” – Dexter Pelap
To view photos of the event, click here.