THE ACES EXPERIENCE
ACES
Accessing Careers in
Energy Summit
September 23-25, 2026 | Little Rock, AR
WELCOME TO
Power Your Future in Energy: The ACES Experience
Education, innovation, and collaboration for the next generation of energy industry leaders
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ACES is co-hosted by MISO and Entergy. Each year, the summit brings together industry professionals, guest speakers, and a select group of students from HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions.
The ACES Experience welcomes STEM majors from targeted colleges and universities within or adjacent to our partner companies' service territories. The program builds awareness of and attracts talent to the electric utility industry.
This one-of-a-kind, multi-day event offers education, exposure, and collaboration opportunities for students pursuing careers in the energy utilities industry.
We welcome rising juniors and seniors majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Science, Industrial Technology, Environmental Science, Business Administration, and Law from HBCUs and Minority Serving Institutions.
We hope you enjoy the Summit!
THE ACES EXPERIENCE
Event Highlights
Professional Development
• Career Panel
• Networking Dinner
• Resume Review/Interview Prep
• Informational Interviews and Career
Opportunity Offers
Content Knowledge Sharing
• Control Room and Substation Tours
• Power Systems Engineering Bootcamp
Energy Case Competition
• Four-member Team Competition
• Sponsoring organizations will submit
cases and judge student groups
• Team Prizes and Scholarships
THE ACES EXPERIENCE
Our success is measured by our ability and commitment to create
life changing opportunities for students in the
Energy Utilities Industry.
VIEW OUR
ACES Alumni Spotlight
Cierra Cage
SOUTHWEST POWER POOL
Engineer II, Model Engineering
ACES Cohort 1
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One thing ACES taught you that you still use in your career today
Always be willing to ask questions and be hungry for information. Seeing the 'behind the scenes' work of what it takes to maintain reliability of the electric grid changed how I saw the energy industry. It allowed me to realize the impacts of our daily electric usage and how other factors play a huge part into the maintenance of the electric grid.
Your favorite memory from your ACES summer
The most meaningful moment of ACES were the moments where I was able to connect with professionals and gain insight into their careers. It stuck with me because I gathered many perspectives of transitioning from college to the workforce and finding ways to balance personal and professional life. Those moments gave me inspiration and encouragement to continue my path and stay focused on the end goal.
One piece of advice for students starting ACES this year
Step outside of your comfort zone and push yourself to think outside of the box. I was very pleased and motivated going into the ACES event. Seeing the anticipation and growth of renewable resources started to connect some dots from my power courses. Furthermore, touring the control rooms definitely gave me more insight into the flow of energy and the linkages between the electric grid.
Brianna Phillips
MISO ENERGY
Analyst II Demand Response Team
ACES Cohort 4
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One thing ACES taught you that you still use in your career today
ACES taught me that it's okay not to have all the answers. Learning to ask questions, seek guidance, and stay curious has been one of the most valuable skills I’ve carried into my career. Having a willingness to learn will always take you far.
Your favorite memory from your ACES summer
My favorite memory from ACES was the Welcome Dinner. I really enjoyed meeting people from across MISO, SPP, and Entergy who worked in so many different areas of the power industry. A few executive leaders were also there, which showed how committed the organizations are to recruiting talent from HBCUs and how important this program truly is.
One piece of advice for students starting ACES this year
One piece of advice I would give is to come in with an open mind. As a mechanical engineer, the power industry wasn’t originally on my radar, but being exposed to a field I knew nothing about really opened my eyes to new possibilities. Never say no to gaining more knowledge, you never know where it may take you.
Ka'Pri Burden
MISO ENERGY
Engineer II- Economic Planning
ACES Cohort 2
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One thing ACES taught you that you still use in your career today
With persistence, you can challenge your doubts and come to realize that you were always capable, you just need to take a step back, reassess, and use the gifts and knowledge you have to solve anything that comes your way. It may not look the same as everyone else, but you reach the finish line just the same.
Your favorite memory from your ACES summer
From my time at ACES, my favorite memory was the camaraderie that was shared when working on the projects to present. Despite not sharing the same major or working closely with each other, my team and I were able to put together a first-place winning presentation leveraging all our skills. It’s a beautiful thing to witness the genius in others and to be in a collaborative environment that brings it out of yourself.
One piece of advice for students starting ACES this year
Welcome the opportunities presented to you. This may look different for each of you with your time with ACES. Whether that’s connections to build your community, scholarships to support your collegiate journey, or even an internship or job offer to set you on the right career path, embrace the ACES experience for all that it has to offer.
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Elijah Rachell
MISO ENERGY
System Modeling Engineer
ACES Cohort 2
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One thing ACES taught you that you still use in your career today
One thing ACES taught me that I still use today is the value of stepping outside my comfort zone and embracing new opportunities to learn and grow, even when I’m still building my skill set.
Your favorite memory from your ACES summer
The case competition was my favorite part of the experience because it challenged our ability to collaborate under pressure and deliver quality work on short notice. I also valued the opportunity to speak with company executives about current challenges and goals within the energy industry.
One piece of advice for students starting ACES this year
Always stay curious, ask questions, and commit to continuous learning — it will help make the most of the ACES experience and every opportunity that comes after.
Partner universities across ACES program's history