Welcome! We're excited to have you as a GateWay Gecko student
ACE is an early college two-year scholarship preparation program designed to help first-generation, underrepresented, financially disadvantaged college-bound students succeed.
The mission of the ACE Program is to academically prepare students, increase graduation rates among first generation college bound students, and to assist students in making a seamless transition from high school into community college and then to transfer into a four-year university to complete a baccalaureate degree.
Need assistance? We are here to help.
Program Applicant Requirements
Who Qualifies?
The ACE program is looking for high school sophomores who have taken at least 6 high school credits at the time of application submission and who meet two or more of the following criteria*:
- First generation to attend college
- Living in a single-parent home
- Member of an underrepresented group
- Experiencing economic hardship
- Environmental factors, such as:
- Working 10 to 30 hours per week while attending high school
- Living in foster care or temporary housing
- Teen parent
*Even if you think you might not fit all the requirements, we still encourage you to apply and let us decide.
The Benefits of Being an ACE Student
- Get a jump start on earning college credit
- Cultural events, guest speakers, workshops, and field trips
- One-on-one advising
- Cohorted classes
- On-campus experience and resources: tutoring, counseling, library, computer lab, and more
Participants in the ACE Program will also receive the following:
- Paid Tuition, earn up to 24-college credits
- Books
- Bus Passes
Application Steps
- Complete and submit an online application.
What is needed for the application:-
Two complete recommendations (full name and email address)
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Personal essay (300 words)
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College Student Information Release form
- Unofficial high school transcripts
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- Your completed application will be evaluated per the selection criteria listed above.
- You will be notified by letter of the status of your application by February of your sophomore year.
- Students who are accepted into the ACE program, you will receive a scholarship offer to attend the GateWay ACE program their junior and senior year.
- You will be required to attend a mandatory New ACE Student/Parent Orientation.
Priority Deadline: Friday, December 15, 2023
Use the "Apply Now" button to create an account and start your ACE application
Use the "Return to Application" to return to a saved application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Fall and Spring Semester: Every Saturday
Summer Semester: Monday – Thursday
Participating High Schools*
- Camelback High School
- Central High School
- Carl Hayden High School
- Metro Tech High School
- Cesar Chavez High School
- GateWay Early College High School
- Academies at South Mountain
- Mountain Pointe High School
- Tempe High School
*List represents only a partial number of high schools where we recruit.
The following lists include just some examples of classes you will take during your participation in each of the specified career pathways.
- Business/Entrepreneurial/Management
- Health
- S.T.E.M.
- Art/Visual Arts/Performance
* Please note: Classes offered are subject to change based on student enrollment and class availability.
Program Contact Information
ACE Office Location
GateWay Community College - Washington Campus
Main Building, Room MA1372
108 North 40th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85034
Phone: (602) 286-8195
Email: ace@gatewaycc.edu
Hours of Operation
Fall and Spring Semester
Tuesday – Friday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday & Monday: Closed
Summer Semester
Monday – Thursday: 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Friday – Sunday: Closed