A.C.E. Award
Accepting the Challenge of Excellence
Nomination Form
2025
ACCEPTING THE CHALLENGE OF EXCELLENCE (A.C.E.) AWARD
WHAT IS IT?
The A.C.E. (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) Award recognizes high school students who have had to overcome great
physical, emotional, or social obstacles and are now eligible for high school graduation.
This is a positive program with two key objectives: it helps encourage students to overcome their hardships and get back on track toward a high school diploma, and it recognizes those students who are often overlooked for their accomplishments. This special recognition serves as a powerful example to all students that hard work and perseverance are rewarded.
The submission deadline for the National A.C.E. Award is June 1. The winner will be presented the A.C.E. Award and a $15,000 scholarship at Exchange’s National Convention. Travel accommodations will be provided to the winner and his/her parents/guardians.
SUMMARY OF INSTRUCTIONS TO ENTER COMPETITION
- Contact your local high school for potential candidates (a girl and boy from each school) for the award. A partial list of difficulties to overcome could include physical, child abuse, delinquency, or substance abuse.
- Ensure that the candidates will be eligible to graduate from high school this year.
- Obtain school official and parent/guardian signatures.
- Recognize the selected individuals at an appropriate club meeting.
- If you plan to enter your candidates in the District Competition, your club’s A.C.E. Award Chairperson or a School Official must prepare the description narrative (500 words max.) and have each candidate write their two brief (250 words max.) narratives.
- The District will select one male and one female candidate as the District A.C.E. award winners, and submit them to the National Exchange Club A.C.E. Award Competition where the one winner will receive $15,000.
- The winning candidates will be honored and recognized at the District Convention. It is Mandatory that the winners attend the District Convention. If a student is selected and cannot attend the Convention the first runner-up will become the winner. (All Convention arrangements for the winners and their chaperones will be the responsibility of the District A.C.E. Award Chairperson and the District Convention Coordinator.)
- If your candidate is selected as the CA-NV District A.C.E. Award winner, please submit a 5” X 7” high quality photo (preferred format is JPG submitted electronically) to be used for publicity purposes.
JUDGING BY DISTRICT
The narratives will be judged by 5 judges at the District Level.
The judges will give up to 250 points on the Club Chairperson’s or School Official narrative.
The candidate’s narratives will each score up to 50 points each. The candidate’s community service & organization points will be used only if the scoring between top candidates is a 2% difference or less or to break a tie.
Accepting the Challenge of Excellence Award (A.C.E.) Student Application
The A.C.E. (Accepting the Challenge of Excellence) Award recognizes high school students who have had to overcome great physical, emotional, or social obstacles and are now eligible for high school graduation.
