BOSTON, MA – For the second year in a row, the Consigli Foundation sponsored the ACE Mentor Program of Boston’s Annual Networking Event on Thursday night. Special guest and keynote speaker, Mayor Martin J. Walsh emphasized the importance of the organization’s mission to engage, excite and enlighten high school students about the potentials of careers in architecture, engineering and construction.
“The ACE Mentor Program is a great example of how building pipelines for careers in design building and construction makes a real difference in the lives of our young people,” said Mayor Walsh. “I thank ACE for supporting our creative talent in our schools and helping us build a strong future for Boston.”
“We are tremendously thankful for all of the support we have received and especially appreciative of Mayor Walsh’s efforts to highlight our efforts to emphasize the benefits of this great industry to our youth,” said Michael Tecci of the engineering firm Simpson, Gumpertz and Heger and a board member of the ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston.
“This program is a wonderful chance for our youth to experience all of the opportunities that the building industry has to offer them,” said Consigli Construction Co., Inc. CEO Anthony Consigli. “We’re proud that a number of our skilled and talented employees can mentor young students every year and to help the program grow throughout Massachusetts.”
Founded in New York City in 1994, the ACE Mentor Program of America was formed when industry leaders banded together to mentor close to 300 students from local high schools throughout the east coast. About 2,900 volunteers from professional firms now serve as mentors and work directly with students to introduce them to the broad range of people and projects within the construction and development industry.
Today, the program is in 40 states with 73 affiliates throughout the country including Boston. Every affiliate has several teams composed of about 25 students and their industry mentors. Each team is set up to emulate an actual design team with students guided through a mock design project by their architect, construction and engineer mentors, simulating real world experience.
Consigli has been involved with the program for several years and aside from financial support has provided skilled mentors for the last five.
Aside from mentorship opportunities, the program has provided more than $14 million in scholarship opportunities throughout the country.
ACE Mentoring Program of Greater Boston has three teams of students meeting in Boston every week for the 2015-2016 school year from October to March. Over the last year, the local chapter has given more than $76,000 in scholarships to students seeking a higher education in the industry.
The Boston affiliate also hosted a trade day at Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, sponsored a trip to the ABX conference in partnership with the Boston Society of Architects at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and several tours of working project sites.