AECOM is committed to nurturing the next generation of our industry. This year, we marked our 18th year of support for the ACE Mentoring Program of Greater New York (ACE GNY). A chapter of the nationwide organization, ACE GNY exposes high school students — many from disadvantaged communities — to careers in architecture, engineering and construction. The program provides scholarship opportunities to high school students within the program pursing college studies in architecture, engineering and construction. This year, our AECOM professionals championed ACE GNY through mentoring, scholarships, event sponsorships and professional development.
“ACE is one of the key educational programs that helps to develop the engineers and architects of the future,” says Tom Prendergast, New York Metro Executive. “I’m proud to see our professionals give back to our community by embracing all aspects of this important program.”
For many students, working alongside mentors on an ACE team is their first exposure to our industry. Our professionals mentored about 100 students in five different teams across the four boroughs and Long Island. The goal was to prepare them to deliver presentations of their projects for the program’s annual mid-May city-wide mock design challenge. During the weekly team meetings, mentors guided the students through hands-on activities that demonstrated engineering and architectural principles, hosted site visits and assisted with scholarship applications.
Recognizing their impact on learning, our mentors are working to advance their professional skills to better support ACE students’ development. This year, Islam Mohamed, a transportation project manager, was selected for ACE’s Mentor Leadership Program. One of 12 mentors for the Class of 2024, Mohamed attended monthly meetings hosted by ACE GNY board members.
“Thank you to our dedicated team leaders and mentors, who are shaping these students’ future and making a difference in our industry’s workforce,” says Roxana Escobar Kariyannis, an AECOM associate vice president, who in addition to her role as a team leader, currently serves as an ACE GNY executive board member and student outreach committee chair. “It’s heartening to see our mentors dedicating time to advance their leadership skills and through their own careers inspire ACE students in their career choices. It’s a priceless experience, which is why so many of us have been with the program for decades.”
The ACE program capped off the academic year with its annual scholarship luncheon, which highlights student achievements and raises program funds. This year, ACE celebrated its milestone 30th anniversary of the event. We were platinum sponsors for the luncheon and provided a scholarship to Brooklyn Technical High School’s Gracelyn Cheung who will study at the Rochester Institute of Technology in the fall. In all, 48 students received a total of $212,000 to bolster their studies.
“Our firm’s continuing dedication to ACE is indicative of our commitment and responsibility to improve our community,” says Tom. “Through our unwavering support for the ACE Mentoring Program of Greater New York, we will continue to foster innovation, creativity and excellence among high school students, ensuring a brighter and more sustainable future for all.”