Adaptive Concepts Academy
Enrollment is Open – Start Building Your Future! Admission and Basic Participation Plan are FREE!
ACA is a Michigan-registered nonprofit helping STEM students and recent grads turn classroom knowledge into resume-building experience through mentored community service projects.
✅ Gain experience employers value
✅ Work on projects with real-world impact
✅ Learn by doing — with guidance from industry mentors
✅ Showcase your work in interviews
✅ Join a community of future-ready engineers and innovators
David W. Clark, P.E.
Executive Director, ACA
Mission Statement:
Our mission is to advance education and scientific research by empowering STEM graduates through community-driven projects, mentorship, and professional development as part of ACA’s Professional Training Program.
Core Values
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Education Through Service – We believe learning is most impactful when it improves lives.
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Integrity & Transparency – We operate ethically and openly, always prioritizing student growth and public good.
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Inclusion – We champion a merit-based approach that values diverse perspectives, ensuring that all individuals with talent, drive, and commitment have a fair opportunity to contribute to the STEM workforce.
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Innovation With Purpose – Our projects tackle real-world problems with creative, research-based solutions.
Join us as we build a new path from education to career—one meaningful project at a time.
Recent Community Service Projects (University/College Collaborating Student Graduates)
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Development of a Sit-to-Stand Class II Medical Device for Wounded Warriors (Arizona State Univ., Fanshawe, UMass-Boston, Univ. Canada West)
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Tsunami Emergency Evacuation Planning for Densely Populated San Fran & Seattle (Univ. NC - Charlotte)
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Harmonetics - Python Software Application for Special Needs (Autistic) Persons (ASU, Univ. Toronto, UMass-Boston, Ohio Northern)
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Design Development and Analytical Performance Analysis of an Energy-Efficient Sustainable Human Mobility Aerial Platform (ASU)
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Harmonetics - Communication Enabler for Special Needs Persons
Academic majors such as software coding and human-centered design may be interested in this project category. Coders from UMass-Boston, Arizona State University and the University of Toronto have collaborated on this project. The code is nearing initial Beta-release version for evaluation.
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Coal Mine Fire Control & Remediation
Academic majors such as Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Biological Sciences, Fire Suppression, Geology and Geography among other STEM disciplines may be interested in this project category. Data from the Pennsylvania Geological Survey from the ongoing Centralia fires support the research effort.
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Advanced Mobility - Transportation Research
Academic majors such as ME, EE, Aerospace, Systems Engineering, Computer Engineering, Physics, ...more, may be interested in this project category. To date, engineers from Arizona State University through the EPICS program and most recently as an ASU Capstone project have supported this project.
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Independent Scientific Research Projects
Independent Scientific Research projects may be available that directly align with student motivations to build their resume portfolio. Recent projects with contributions from UNC students include Emergency Preparedness of 2 west coast cities in the event of a Tsunami to include recommendations for readiness via a report sent to the cities Emergency Management Centers.