A way for past ACE Scholarship recipients to get more and give back.

Cat has worked with students, schools, and their families her entire career, spending the last seven years in the school choice arena. Cat attended Colorado Christian University and is an alumnus of the leadership program of the Rockies. A Colorado native, she enjoys spending her free time traveling and going to concerts. Also, whenever you attend one of our events, Cat is your girl for all food suggestions, as she is a self-proclaimed food enthusiast.

Erin has her bachelor’s in Interpersonal and Intercultural Communications from the University of Kansas. She also studied Literature, Art, and Writing at the British Institute and received her teaching certifications from the International TEFL Academy and the University of Colorado. She has worked as a journalist, teacher, coach, and communications coordinator/social media manager. Erin is passionate about inspiring students/alumni to pursue intellectual and personal excellence by guiding students/alumni to understand the world around them and their talents in order to become fulfilled individuals and compassionate citizens.

My name is Sayuri Toribio. I am a student at Regis University majoring in Business Administration and minoring in French. I attended Kent Denver School and had an ACE scholarship for four years. Ever since I was younger, I started volunteering with my local school and other nonprofits in the Denver Metropolitan area, where I grew a passion for helping others and being a part of a community.

Now I intern with City Councilwoman Jamie Torres, where I learn about my District and learn to give back to my community. ACE has helped me gain the best education from Kent Dever and has allowed me to grow as a leader and be where I am today. ACE has pushed our whole family to strive to achieve great things through education and to share that knowledge with others.

My name is Nate Garcia, and I’m honored to share my personal story over the past eight years. As a recipient of the ACE Scholarship, I have received the tremendous gift of quality education and much more. From the many teachers, mentors, and friends I’ve made over the past several years to the wisdom, perseverance, and character I’ve developed, the ACE Scholarships have given me the ability to pursue my dreams and build a life that might not otherwise have been possible.

I’m still amazed that ACE came into my life at just the right time when I needed to find a way out and a better path. I struggled in middle school and continued to drown after starting junior high. Feeling lost and out of place amidst the chaos of public school, life at home was also uncertain after my father left us when I was only ten years old. In addition to the emotional trauma this caused, there was the added pressure and anxiety my mother faced as a single parent left to raise my sister and me.
However, amid all this hardship, my mother discovered ACE Scholarships. With the support of ACE, I left the public school system and attended Faith Christian Academy, where my life would begin to change. I was in an ideal academic setting, but I was now among teachers and students who shared my faith. I was finally on a new path and in a safe place where I could concentrate on my grades, build positive friendships and regain my confidence. Because of the ACE Scholarship, I was able to graduate from Faith Christian Academy and the University of Colorado and now hold a degree in political science. My education also opened the door to an incredible internship with Colorado Representative Edie Hooton, where I gained career-relevant experience and firsthand knowledge of what it’s like to hold public office. Excited about my future in the political realm and proud of all that I have achieved, I can’t help but be grateful to those who support ACE.

My name is Yarian Garcia Vela, and I was born on the 30th of October, 2002, in Tamaulipas, Mexico. I lived in Mexico until I was eleven and moved to the United States in 2014. I graduated from St. Pius X High School in 2021, currently attend Houston Baptist University, will continue with my studies at the University of Houston, and hope to graduate in 2025.

ACE means the world to me because its mission is for children and education. There are an enormous amount of kids who are not comfortable in their environment and school. Most of them don’t have the choice or freedom of receiving a better education due to their zip code. ACE saves the future of families in ten states and counting. ACE gives hope to families like mine for a better future. I am eternally grateful for the opportunity given to me. They gave me the freedom to choose my high school, which was the environment I needed to continue to achieve my goals. The school provided all the attention I needed to grow, not only as a student but as a person. I am an ACE alumnus, and I am excited to continue helping others get to where I am and further as ACE helped me. School choice is important and can lead families to achieve their dreams.

My name is Jimmy Pham, and I am a Saint Louis University Alum, class of 2018. I was an ACE Scholarship recipient, class of 2014, from Arrupe Jesuit High school. I graduated from Saint Louis University with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical engineering.

I spent some time with Liberty Oilfield Services in West Texas and Boeing in Oklahoma City in the first four years of my career. I am currently a project engineer/project manager for Leidos Corporation as an FAA contractor.

ACE Scholarship allowed me to pursue an education in the school environment that best fits me. ACE allowed me to focus on my goals and aspirations. Every kid deserves an opportunity similar to what I experienced. As the former ACE Alumni Board President of Colorado, I want to be a part of ACE to keep the connection and network of ACE Alumni alive. I believe the Alumni group is essential to the organization as they are the experience and results of the ACE Scholarship foundation.

Erion P. Davison was born November 7, 2000, in New Orleans, Louisiana to Angela Bird. She has three siblings: Erica, Earea, and Erek. At the age of 14, Erion accepted Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior during the summer of her 7th-grade year school year.

Erion is a Junior at Southern University majoring in Mass Communication with a focus on Public Relations. Once she graduates she aspires to become a PR specialist. She has a passion for helping people. No matter who you are or what you need her to do, she will get the job done.

Erion also became the author of 3 published books in her teenage years. Her first book is entitled, Keep Running: How To Endure When Life Looks Impossible. Her second book, Bold & Beautiful: 6 Things Every Female Should Know. Her third book, The Missing Pieces no “God no you”! She inspires and empowers women of all ages. God has given her the courage to share her story throughout these books. She believes that sharing her story could help those that may simply be tired of running in life. Author Erion P. Davison provides a great plan of how anyone (young or old) could overcome any challenge when life attempts to get the best of you.

My name is Sydney Jones, and I was born in raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. Being from such a diverse and cultural city, I am someone who loves to have fun and meet new people from all walks of life.

In May of 2022, I graduated from Cabrini High school Magna Cum Laude, a member of the National and Art Honor Society with a 3.9 GPA. Currently, I am attending Louisiana State University, majoring in Business-Human Resource Management. After completing my bachelor’s degree, I plan on attending Law school, with a dream of being a corporate lawyer.

ACE has blessed me with the opportunity to attend the high school of my choice. Since I was in the 7th grade, it was my dream to be able to attend Cabrini High School, even though it was very expensive. ACE blessed me with the opportunity to be able to not only graduate from my dream school but to also graduate with honors. With the help of ACE, I am now able to attend college and pursue my dream career. ACE has taught me the importance of giving back to the community, which I plan to reciprocate for the rest of my life. ACE has inspired me to eventually start a scholarship of my own at my former high school.

My name is Dau Doldol. I am a former refugee who overcame all the odds with the help of my family, friends, and organizations like the International Rescue Committee and ACE Scholarships.

I just graduated with my master’s degree in International Education and Human Development and currently work as a consultant analyst doing work to further development in rural and urban communities across America. ACE Scholarships was the stepping stone for me and my family to be able to finish our education and to have the opportunity to pursue higher education. I am grateful for ACE scholarships and will always be a part of the community.

My name is Afriye Phillips, and I am a former ACE Scholar who graduated from Oral Roberts university. I have partnered with ACE over the past couple of years to help reach more kids with our mission at Hoops Academy of “education beyond the court.” Hoops Academy is my own coaching business. I love what I do and have loved connecting with ACE over these past few years.

Without ACE Scholarships, I would not be where I am today. Thank you so much ACE Scholarships, for all that you do!

After doing elementary at a public school and feeling frustrated at the pace due to the large class sizes, my parents decided to try private schooling. I enrolled in Presentation of Our Lady in 6th grade and never looked back. The attention allowed me to learn at a faster pace which made me excited to learn once more. At Bishop Machebeuf High School, I developed skills that helped me be college ready.

With the help of ACE, I became a student with great study habits that helped me thrive in higher education. I have completed my Bachelor’s in Biology and Public Health, and I have decided to apply to school once more to pursue my Doctorate in Dental Surgery.

My name is Robert Sneed; I grew up in a small town south of Alexandria, LA. I am a man of God that’s highly motivated to do the right thing in life. I always wanted and dreamed of being in the military, which was no surprise to my family because my father is a Marine.

While attending public school, I always managed to get passed on to the next grade level, although I wasn’t growing as an individual. I was constantly getting in trouble while attending public school. During my sophomore year of high school, I was awarded an ACE scholarship to attend an academic award-winning private high school.

ACE was a massive step in the right direction for me. Once I started attending private high school, I could finally separate from negativity and focus on my school work and sports. I went on to graduate high school with 45 college credits. Since graduating high school in 2017, I managed to graduate from college with two bachelor’s degrees, and I also followed my dream by joining the military. Thank you, ACE Scholarships for being a huge stepping stone in my life.

My name is Jorge, and I received an ACE scholarship from sixth grade through twelfth grade. My parents found St. Rose of Lima after I completed fifth grade at my public school. It was the complete package: quality of education, individual attention, location, and alignment with my family’s values. I went on to Arrupe Jesuit high school, a unique school with a corporate work-study program that allowed me to gain the insight and skills that put me a step ahead of my peers. I went on to the Colorado School of Mines and obtained a degree in Petroleum Engineering.

I’m currently a hydraulic fracturing engineer at Liberty Energy, a Denver company that is leading the way in finding innovative ideas to refine the hydraulic fracturing process and in turn, makes energy more accessible to the world.

ACE helped pave the way for me to get to where I am today, as it made the schools I attended accessible to me and allowed me to put my unique abilities to use in a way that challenged me and kept me pushing for more. Now my three younger brothers are following in my footsteps with help from ACE, and I couldn’t be prouder of the driven young men they have had the freedom to become, just like I had.