Scholarships Awarded to Students in After-School Architecture, Construction and Engineering Program

The South Jersey section of the New Jersey chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIASJ) is pleased to announce that the ACE Mentor Program of New Jersey has awarded a total of $9,500 to six students from the Cumberland County team.

The ACE New Jersey after-school program, which introduces high school students to careers in architecture, construction management and engineering, began operating in 1999 and has since awarded $428,250 in scholarships across the state. Currently, there are eight teams meeting in different regions across New Jersey during the academic year.

“Through the ACE Mentor Program, students are given the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in a field they are truly interested in pursuing professionally,” said architect Larry Merighi, AIA, and head of the Cumberland County ACE Mentor Team. “Whether they decide to continue a career path in the field, both students and mentors benefit from the collaboration on these design projects.”

To qualify for the scholarships, students must regularly attend the program and be pursuing a degree in an approved field, such as architecture, engineering or construction management. The application process includes submitting recommendations from program mentors and another sources, submitting transcripts and completing a series of short essay questions on topics including the impact of design and their reason for pursuing a career in the indicated field. The students are then ranked by the ACE New Jersey board, which determines the level of scholarship they will receive. The scholarships money is raised through a scholar breakfast and golfing outing.

The following Cumberland County students received scholarships in 2016:

• Stephanie Lopez of Vineland High School received $2,000 and will be studying architecture at the New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)
• William Zaleskiewicz of Saint Augustine Prep received $2,000 and will be studying architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
• Akexander Bruman of Millville High School received $1,500 and will be studying mechanical engineering at Rutgers University
• Madeline MacDonald of Our Lady of Mercy Academy received $1,500 and will be studying architecture at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI)
• Delaney Sheppard of Millville High School received $1,500 and will be studying mechanical engineering at Cumberland County College
• James Johnson-Cowles of Bridgeton High School received $1,000 and will be studying electrical engineering at Rowan University

Through the program, students are exposed to lectures and mentor presentations, and are given the opportunity to create design and construction concepts similar to those developed in real world situations. The program also includes training on how to present design and construction projects as well as visits to construction sites and apprenticeship facilities.

“One of AIA’s goals as an organization is to educate the public about the importance of architecture and the power it has in transforming the world around them,” comments Bruce Turner, president of AIASJ. “We are proud of our AIASJ membership taking the lead to educate the professionals of tomorrow and helping them prepare for the next step in their education career. Participating in ACE is just one of the great things our organization is able to do for its community.”

“The ACE Mentor Program not only teaches students about the construction, architecture and engineering professions but gives them invaluable hands-on experience they would not be able to get elsewhere,” said Cristina Martinez, president of ACE NJ. “We appreciate all efforts from our current mentors and students. Increased support and involvement across the board will help the program continue to grow across New Jersey.”

About AIA and AIA New Jersey

Founded in 1857, the American Institute of Architects (AIA) is the professional organization that helps architects serve the public’s needs and builds awareness of the role of architects and architecture in American society. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., its 300 plus local chapters represent 87,000 licensed architects and allied professionals. The organization’s local chapter, AIA New Jersey, has served as the voice of the architecture profession in the Garden State since 1900. Based in Trenton, AIA New Jersey has 2,000 members in six local sections. For more information, please visit www.aia-nj.org.