And the MT winners are…

We asked graduating ACE seniors in Montana to tell us how ACE Scholarships has impacted their future, and students submitted heartfelt stories about the importance of an ACE scholarship in achieving their academic and professional goals. Judging the essays was a difficult process; all of the entries were exceptionally well written and optimistic about the future. But, after weeks of deliberation, we narrowed the entries down to the final three winning essays.

$1,000 First Place Winner
Valerie L., who plans to major in Elementary Education because she believes teachers are some of the most influential members of society. According to Valerie, the education she received at her ACE partner school helped her to understand the value of education: “I can confidently say that my education has made me stronger, has taught me to set my goals higher, and has demonstrated to me that hard work always pays off.” To read Valerie’s award-winning essay, click here.

$500 Second Place Winner 
Zack T., who wrote about dyslexia and the support he received from the community at his ACE partner school. “I have learned how to become a mature and responsible young man, how to study correctly, take notes properly, and overall, how to become a successful student,” says David. As a student at Boise State University, David will be majoring in physical therapy with a minor in psychology. We were impressed with David’s openness and his desire to pay it forward. “I hope to be a [ACE] donor to help kids that are in the same spot financially during high school,” says David. Read more about David’s aspirations here.

$250 Third Place Winner 
Jase S., who, with the help of an ACE scholarship, was able to attend a school that challenged him academically while providing him with the opportunity to become an apprentice with a local metal fabricator. “My long-term career goal is to own a metal workshop and truly let my entrepreneurial spirit take off,” says Jase. “In repayment to the community for all of the help I have received, I hope to one day take on an apprentice to establish a long-lasting legacy of tradesman.” As an ACE Scholarship recipient, Jase was able to excel in his classical education while pursuing his passion for art and fabrication. Jase will be attending Helena College of Technology to obtain a degree in metal fabrication. Learn more about Jase and his passion for giving back to the community here.

Thank you to all the students and ACE Partner schools who participated in the Montana Senior Essay Contest. We received so many beautifully written and inspirational submissions and look forward to hearing more from ACE Montana students in the coming school year.