Building the Future
2026 ACE Scholarships
Annual Luncheon
May 6, 2026
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM
Denver, CO
Building the Future
2026 ACE Scholarships
Annual Luncheon
Event Program coming soon!
This year, as our nation celebrates its 250th birthday, we reflect on the many ways education and opportunity have shaped America. From the six branches of our military to the skilled trades that built this country, and the entrepreneurs who continue to drive its innovation. Our future has always been crafted by people who learned, worked, and served with purpose.
At ACE Scholarships, we know that changing education is the foundation for every future, no matter which path a student chooses. This year, we proudly broaden the story we tell to celebrate the many directions education can lead.
Because education doesn’t point in only one direction. It points in all of them.
And Changing Education Changes Everything for students who become service members, first responders, skilled tradespeople, entrepreneurs, as well as those who pursue college degrees. Their stories remind us that opportunity is not one-size-fits-all; it is personal, powerful, and transformative.
Mike Rowe is a writer, narrator, producer, recording artist, Emmy-Award winning TV Host, New York Times Best Selling author, and the CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. As the creator and host of the iconic TV series Dirty Jobs, Mike is best-known as “the dirtiest man on TV,” but his true calling is storytelling. From Somebody’s Gotta Do It to Returning the Favor, The Story Behind the Story, Six Degrees, and The Way I Heard It, Mike continues to tap the country on the shoulder and say, “These are people you should know.” In his role as a perpetual apprentice, Mike has highlighted hundreds of workers in dozens of essential industries. His foundation has awarded millions of dollars in work ethic scholarships, and his commitment to reinvigorate the skilled trades is unrivaled.
Watch Mike Rowe Speak at the 2026 Annual Luncheon
Mike Rowe is a writer, narrator, producer, recording artist, Emmy-Award winning TV Host, New York Times Best Selling author, and the CEO of the mikeroweWORKS Foundation. As the creator and host of the iconic TV series Dirty Jobs, Mike is best-known as “the dirtiest man on TV,” but his true calling is storytelling. From Somebody’s Gotta Do It to Returning the Favor, The Story Behind the Story, Six Degrees, and The Way I Heard It, Mike continues to tap the country on the shoulder and say, “These are people you should know.” In his role as a perpetual apprentice, Mike has highlighted hundreds of workers in dozens of essential industries. His foundation has awarded millions of dollars in work ethic scholarships, and his commitment to reinvigorate the skilled trades is unrivaled.
Additional Speaker Videos
Hear Our Speakers
Norton Rainey, CEO
ACE Scholarships
Griselda, Carlos, Ariana & David Estrada
ACE Family
Kristin & Mark Becker, Executive Directors
Pikes Peak Academy
Gilbert Antillon
ACE Alumnus
Raymond Howard
ACE Alumnus
Event Videos
2026 Highlight Reel
ACE 101
Building the Future
EFTC
Ways to Support
You can be a part of changing a child’s story.
For more information about how you can be a part of ACE Scholarships, please reach out to:
Brittani O’Brien
Liz Cole
Event Photos
Coming soon!
