Fremd students benefit from engineering mentor program
Five Fremd High School students — Conner McGuire, Peter Michalski, Connor Moyer, Nicole Murray, and Nick Saloman — recently applied for, were accepted to, and completed the ACE mentorship program.
ACE is an acronym for architecture, construction and engineering. The program’s mission is to engage, excite and enlighten high school students to pursue careers in the integrated construction industry through mentoring; and to support their continued advancement in the industry through scholarships and grants.
ACE is a unique partnership among industry professionals — architects, interior designers, landscape architects, mechanical, structural, electrical, environmental and civil engineers, construction managers, college and university representatives, and other professionals from related corporations and professional organizations — who work together to attract young people to their professions.
Industry professionals volunteer to become mentors to high school students in order to introduce them to the professions and encourage them to pursue studies and careers in these fields. In return, the industry gets a much-needed boost of new talent. While working on their projects, students visit professional offices, job sites, and other relevant locations. They discussed the same issues and performed the same tasks of those that work in the industry. It was a practical “hands-on” view of how abstract concepts get transformed into the buildings that make up our everyday reality.
“When I went to Power Construction’s job site in Northbrook,” said senior Connor Moyer, “it was nothing like I expected. I was given a tour of the site and saw firsthand what it was like to be project manager. The amount of detail and precision that goes into the blueprints is astonishing.
“Seeing the drawings on paper is one thing, but actually being at the site and seeing the drawings come to life is an experience I’ll never forget. I also realized that the fields of architecture, construction management, and engineering all have to coordinate and communicate to make the project a success.”
According to Applied Technology Teacher Nick Wedoff, “I am really impressed with these students taking advantage of this opportunity. It has dramatically increased the excitement with all of my students about careers that utilize drafting, engineering and architecture. Their participation in the ACE mentorship program has cemented their desire to further their education in the fields of Technology and Applied Sciences.”
“The biggest thing I took away from the ACE mentorship experience,” said junior Nick Saloman, “was a better understanding of the career field I am interested in. Not only did I learn more about architecture and all the fields closely related, but I met truly incredible and inspiring mentors. Using their help and my own aspirations, I also walked away with a partial scholarship, and I’m excited and anxious to return to the program next year.”