ACE Program

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.

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)
- Personal essay (300 words)
- College Student Information Release form
- Unofficial high school transcripts
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.