Matt Dumba and Mats Zuccarello host ACES students at the Xcel Energy Center

ACES is proud and fortunate to partner with incredible Athlete Ambassadors who help bring learning to life and enable one-in-a-lifetime field trip opportunities for our students! This NHL season, many ACES students experienced their first hockey game thanks to hosts Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba and winger Mats Zuccarello. After completing a curriculum unit on stadium architecture, it was especially exciting to visit the Xcel Energy Center. Students had a blast cheering for the Wild and, of course, the snacks were a big hit!

Experiential learning opportunities like game visits – made possible through ACES partnerships with Minnesota’s professional sports teams – build community connection bolster ACES’s math and social-emotional learning curriculum. ACES is grateful to Matt, Mats, and the Wild for their support and partnership in our work to close the academic opportunity gap and prepare students for success.