WCCO reporter Norman Seawright III I looks at how the latest program from Athletes Committed to Educating Students (ACES), which aims to virtually connect students with tutors (3:08). WCCO 4 News At 10 – May 3, 2020

We’re launching our ACES All-Star Auction Wednesday, April 22, 2020. Over the next six weeks a different Minnesota athlete and celebrities will be auctioning off memorabilia that they find in their closets (Matt Dumba’s unique hat, or Chad Greenway’s practice jersey as an example). Just like everyone, ACES All Stars are stuck at home and they are digging into their closest to help ACES. The proceeds will go directly toward supporting our new COACH (Coaching Our ACES Community At Home) program, where ACES staff will be coaching their students virtually!

Minnesota Wild defenseman Matt Dumba today made a donation to ACES to support ACES families who have been impacted by the quarantine to help provide immediate and basic needs.

One of the things that makes our Site Coordinator team so strong is their diverse background and unique experiences prior to working with ACES. Claire Williams has been a Site Coordinator at Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club since 2015, but she actually got her start with ACES cleaning offices part-time while she worked in a bakery. As her time with ACES went on, her role in the office grew and she began taking on more responsibilities. After suffering a torn ACL, she was unable to continue her work at the bakery during her recovery, and she took a more prominent role at ACES. In the spring of 2015, Claire became an Academic Coach, co-teaching a class with another Academic Coach, and it was clear this was where her passion was.

One of the things that makes ACES special is the diversity of religion and ethnicity found among our students. While many of us are getting ready to spend Christmas with our families and friends, we wanted to share some of the holiday traditions our students are excited to celebrate this time of year!

Having experienced educators on our team is always a large asset to our program team as well as our students. They bring a history of lesson planning and curriculum, a passion for youth development, and proven classroom management methods. This is Jenny Young’s 2nd year with ACES!