Aces Is Taking You Places!
Blake 10th graders, have you ever wondered if there was a way to get a 4-year degree with practically no debt? Would you like someone to guide you along the way, and have fun while doing it? Look no further! The ACES program at Blake is currently recruiting 10th graders.
ACES is a program created by MCPS to help students who join to have a more streamlined experience towards getting a 4-year degree, or other post-high school options. They work with MCPS, Montgomery College, and the Universities at Shady Grove, each with their own ACES coordinators to help students in college. ACES also specializes in having fun while students are in the program. They hold summer events for upcoming 11th and 12th graders in the program to teach them about writing essays, financial literacy, creating college lists, etc.
Dr. Mekonen, the Blake ACES coach highly recommends this program to 10th graders as it βinvests in the student.β Most 10th graders aren’t thinking about life past high school, so ACES serves to introduce them to that. As Dr. Mekonen put it, βIf Lebron James came to me, [said he wanted to coach me] and I wanted to be a good basketball player, I’d be like duh.β Dr. Mekonen sees ACES as the perfect coach to those who want to learn about college or life after high school!
I wanted to know how current ACES students felt about the program, so I interviewed two students in the office. The first interviewee, Leslie said that it is beneficial to be able to βdo activities together with other peers and knowing more about college, especially if you are the first one in the family to go to college.β The other interviewee, Brianna enjoys ACES because she βlikes the community that comes with ACES, and being able to see new faces.β ACES had also held a recruitment drive on Thursday, November 21st, 2024 during lunch in the amphitheater to try and recruit more 10th graders into the program. If there are any who want to apply, the ACES interest form is http://bit.ly/BlakeACESInterest. ACES hopes to see you 10th graders* in their program!
*Only 10th graders may join the program, 9th graders are unable to join until they are in the 10th grade. All grades past 10th are unable to join the program aswell.