This week, the Las Cruces Home Builders Association collaborated with Las Cruces Public Schools to host an Intern Fair and a Medical Intern Fair for students in the Academic Career Experience (ACE) program from all six high schools.
Medical representatives from Three Crosses Hospital, Memorial Medical Center, MountainView Regional Medical Center, and the Southern Area Health Education Center formally met with ACE students to ask them questions during the interview process. LCPS community partners gave students feedback at the end of every interview.
After completing their résumés, students participated in one-on-one interviews with local community partners for their desired career path. Student interns selected by employers go on to gain work experience. Student interns are responsible for completing 10-15 hours per week at the internship site.
ACE is a program that gives students at Las Cruces Public Schools an opportunity to earn credit through participating in work experience or early field-based experience related to their chosen program of study before graduation.
Employability skills are necessary to understand the diversity of workplace cultures and employer expectations. The ACE team helps to ensure students have options to develop positive life skills before graduation, including the ability to understand personal and professional career decision-making and employability skills.
ACE is a work-based learning program, the longest running high school internship in the state of New Mexico serving over 300 students a semester at LCPS. Every High School in the district has students in the ACE program.
Work-Based Learning (WBL) is an educational program that combines classroom instruction with practical work experience that is directly related to a program of study. The program’s mission is to enhance student knowledge by combining classroom learning with hands-on work experience.
High School students enrolled in the ACE program can earn two credits toward graduation. The program is only available to juniors and seniors. ACE members gain valuable exposure to life-long peer mentors in and out of the work setting.
Students also learn how to work well with others, understand complex interrelationships, work with a variety of technologies, and acquire skills to organize and plan their personal and professional life.
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