Mr. Ireland Honored as “School Champion of the Year” by ACE Mentor Program

Ensworth’s Science Department Chair and high school science teacher, Mr. Mike Ireland, has been recognized with the “School Champion of the Year” award by the ACE (Architecture, Construction, Engineering) Mentor Program of Greater Nashville.

The national ACE Mentor Program connects high school students with industry professionals to explore careers in architecture, construction, and engineering through hands-on experiences and mentorship. Ensworth’s team—known to students as “engineering club”—partners with James Lawson High School and is guided by Mr. Ireland, whose leadership and commitment have been instrumental to the group’s success.

Throughout the year, students collaborate with professional mentors, tour prominent Nashville job sites, and participate in practical design and building challenges. Their work culminates in an annual event, where teams from across Middle Tennessee present ambitious design projects to an audience of peers, families, educators, and industry leaders.

At this year’s banquet, Ensworth junior Sutton Korn was among the students awarded a scholarship in recognition of her outstanding work. The evening also served as an opportunity to honor Mr. Ireland, whose dedication of time and energy to mentoring students earned him this distinguished recognition.

The ACE Mentor Program not only provides students with a deeper understanding of potential career paths and the education required to pursue them, but also fosters lasting connections within the industry. Many alumni go on to careers in these fields and return as mentors themselves—continuing a cycle of learning and leadership that Mr. Ireland so powerfully supports.