Accelerated Christian Education, also known as ACE, is a curriculum developed in 1970 in Texas. Forty years later, ACE reaches 6,000 schools in 45 countries. This year, WKU was the site of ACE'S International Student Conference.

"There's lots to keep you busy and that's one of the best things about it," says Rebekah Caldwell of Frankfort.

Junior high and high school students have fanned out across the campus to compete in everything from ping pong to poetry.

"They do things like academics, athletics, art and music and you just compete in the stuff you do and get to glorify God in the process."

These students use Accelerated Christian Education curriculum throughout the year, then focus on hands-on activities during the conference.

"The competition is designed to help students discover how it is that God hard-wired them," says Dr. Greg Mutsch, ACE Executive Director.

Regional and national competitions are held around the world leading up to the international convention which is always held at an American University. This is the first year for WKU to host.

This campus is much more beautiful than all the others," says Zachery Gural of New York. "It's a lot greener, staff is friendly, it's beautiful."

Ricky Chan is enjoying the campus too. The native of South Africa is making other stops besides just Bowling Green.

"We just visited New York and Washington," he says. "After this we are going to Florida, Orlando for Disney World."

ACE, which is now headquartered in Nashville, hopes the international conference returns to WKU in the future.

"Without a doubt, Western Kentucky University has rolled out the red carpet for us and we greatly appreciate it."

Spiritual rallies held each night of the conference inside Diddle Arena were streamed live on the internet. An awards ceremony for all the competitions was held Thursday morning before the students departed.