Pilot Program for ACES Academy For Students

By Amy Greenstein



Some say there is no better classroom than the real world. For the students involved in the ACES (Americans for the Competitive Enterprise System) Academy for Students, the real world actually is their classroom.

In this pilot program, students will spend two semesters visiting businesses in the Howard County area. There, they will learn by getting a first-hand look at what goes on in the business world. Rather than read textbooks covering everything from economic issues to r?sum?s, the students will get to interact with the business community and learn in a real-life situation.

ACES program coordinator and Howard County Chamber of Commerce board member Nancy Szlasa says, "The ACES Academy for Students is an example of a unique program connecting education, business and community. The experience of interacting onsite with members of the business community will indeed help prepare students for business leadership roles in our community."

Marketing plans, strategies for effective networking, professional business etiquette, potential career options and the realities of various working environments are just some of the topics that these students will cover. The knowledge they will acquire enables them to make more astute decisions regarding their course selections and ultimate college majors and careers. In the pilot year, Academy students are juniors in the Academy of Finance program of the Howard County Public School System and the ACES Academy serves as an enhancement to their already rigorous curriculum.

The businesses hosting the onsite visits include Princeton Sports, Ford Motor Credit Company, Yolanda Voss, Amerix Corporation, Star Hotels and the Economic Development Authority's Tech Incubator. Some might ask why these companies would bother taking time out of their busy schedules to interact with high school students, but as Howard County Chamber of Commerce President/CEO Kara Calder points out, "They know that this is one of the best investments they can make in the future of our community."

The program is an effort of the Howard County Chamber of Commerce working in conjunction with Howard Community College, which is providing an intern to assist in the coordination of the program, and the Howard County Public School System's Academy of Finance, coordinated by Casey Crouse. The program was initiated as a way of cultivating the next generation of Howard County business leaders as well as helping them develop into responsible Howard County citizens.

Currently, the pilot program involves River Hill and Howard high schools, but program coordinators hope to expand to other schools in the future.

The ACES Academy for Students is based directly on a program developed by the Howard County Chamber of Commerce, the Howard County Public School System, and the ACES Academy (for teachers) under the leadership of Paula Blake, Instructional Facilitator, Career Connections.

The orientation/kickoff for the ACES Academy for Students will be held at the Economic Development Authority's Tech Incubator on January 28, 2003. There will be a formal meeting/celebration in May at Howard Community College. For more information, or to participate as a host site, call Nancy Szlasa at 410-442-8034.



Amy Greenstein is the Member Services and Community Affairs coordinator for the Howard County Chamber of Commerce. Contact her at 410-730-4111 or agreenstein@howardchamber.com.





I have elected to sponsor the ACES program because I believe in the superb value and mutual benefit for the students and business. The youth of today are the future generation of tomorrow. The youth of today are our support system. We must recognize we are what we are because of the unselfish contribution of ideas, tips, philosophy and encouragement from our role models. The Yolanda Voss Studio International has witnessed major transformations among the young people and can attest to the value of exchange programs, courses and internships that nurture creativity and stimulate positive ideas and dreams among the youth. The ACES program deserves all our support in their positive mission.

Thank you,

Yolanda Voss