The UP Association of Civil Engineering Students towers above the rest as one of the oldest organizations in the College of Engineering. It is during this time that the UP ACES began to take form on July, 1954 and was founded by the four ACES: Claudio Altura, Reynaldo Alberto, Bernardo Armeña, and Ramon Arroyo. At first, UP ACES was just an informal group and all civil engineering students were me
mbers. During the sixties, the UP ACES spirit kept on having its presence felt as more college activities came up. Among these were tournaments in chess, basketball, bowling, debate series, slide rule contests and Awitan contests. The association also embarked on operation T.O.P. - Top or Pass the board examinations. The association bought civil engineering textbooks and reviewers for the board examinees. In July 1969, UP ACES launched its maiden issue of BEAM, a monthly publication exhibiting the literary and journalistic talents of its members. In 1970, UP ACES was cited as the “Most Outstanding Student Organization” in the College of Engineering, by the Engineering Student Council. An inter-university group called the Philippine Association of Civil Engineering Student Chapter virtually served as a guarantee that the various ACES's of Feati, FEU, MIT, MLQU, NU, PUP, UP and UST would continue to promote academic and professional growth. In January 1971, it sponsored the First National Convention of Civil Engineering Students. From then on, UP ACES has continued its tradition of excellence and innovation as it started to organize the highly anticipated events of the Engineering Week – Indakan, an interpretative dance competition, an event originally organized by the Fraulein, and Jammeng’g, a themed battle of the bands. In 2003, UP ACES joined the Philippine Institute of Civil Engineers (PICE) and has become one of the prime movers among its student chapters. In June 2006, UP ACES became one of the founding organizations of the Alliance of Young Civil Engineers in Metro Manila. UP ACES started to organize the Civil Engineering Quiz show during the nineties, which now evolved into the National Civil Engineering Summit every September. Now, aside from the National Civil Engineering Quiz, it comprises of events such as National Civil Engineering Symposium, CE Company Talk, CE Exhibit, CE Lab Tour and Workshop, High School Career Talk and InCEthink. All of the events continue the UP ACES tradition of promoting academic excellence and camaraderie among the CE community. Today, UP ACES organizes a series of seminars for its members through Pump UP! It also reaches out to Filipinos who are in need of help. Through its ACES Gives Back, part of the earnings of UP ACES from all its events is used for charity. It’s been 70 years and UP ACES never ceases to be an icon of excellence in the college, as well as in the university. Its history, and the members who are innate leaders and achievers, contribute to the continually rising tower and deeper foundation of UP ACES. Solid, Bigtime, Forever, Yeah!
