ACE Mentor News August 2011 ACE Mentor Program of Northeast Florida, Inc
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ACE Mentor News August 2011 ACE Mentor Program of Northeast Florida, Inc. Board of Directors Kimberly Hansen, P.E., Chairman Students Discover Career Opportunities in the Elkins Constructors, Inc. Design and Construction Industry Terry Hull, P.E., Vice Chairman Taylor Engineering, Inc. The ACE Mentor Program of Northeast Florida is an after-school mentoring program that Chantelle Quick, CPA, Treasurer has completed its fifth year in the Jacksonville area. Founded in 2006, we are an affiliate of Ennis Pellum & Associates, CPAs the ACE national organization (www.acementor.org). Brooke Robbins, AIA, Secretary KBJ Architects, Inc. Career Opportunities Denise M. Ramsey, P.E., ACE exposes students to potential careers in the Immediate-Past Chairman The Haskell Company construction industry through instruction on sustain- able design, architecture, engineering and construc- David Christine, AIA, NCARB, tion, including estimating and scheduling. Industry LEED AP Gresham Smith & Partners professionals mentor the students, introducing them to the careers, industry vocabulary, and the various roles Tim S. Conlan Auld and White Constructors, LLC companies play in the construction industry. The students are exposed to real-life construction experiences through Emily F. Crews, LEED AP, CPSM TLC - Engineering for Architecture field trips to local construction sites and the offices of design professionals.The students use this new knowledge to work closely with their mentors to prepare and develop a design Daniel Brown Miller Electric Company and construction project. Tom Goldsbury, P.E., CBO City of Jacksonville About ACE ACE is a non-profit organization supported by local construction industry companies, Reese Henderson, Jr., Esq. organizations and individual donors. Students who participate in the ACE program have the Tritt | Henderson opportunity to apply for scholarships made possible Crystal A. Markley, P.E. by our generous donors. Our donors, mentors and USACE Board of Directors spend countless hours working to Paul Parker support the ACE mission. Clay County Schools Will Schaet, LEED AP Since 2006, the local ACE chapter has awarded Barton Malow Company over $61,000.00 in scholarships to our students. Michelle Tappouni Many students remain active alumni and return to Breaking Ground Contracting help support the program. ACE has also assisted Dr. Lorenda Tiscornia many students in obtaining employment through the Duval County Schools strong relationships they developed with their own Mentor Team Leaders Jacob Thurlow (APRHS), Becky Riley (EHS), mentors. and Tahir Edwards (OPHS) ACE served three Jacksonville area high schools in the 2010 - 2011 school year: A. Philip Randolph High School, Orange Park High School and Englewood High School. ACE is hopeful that with continued support of the construction community and its invaluable mentors, that it will be able to expand to additional high schools in the near future. Career Directions for Students in Architecture, To track our events, find out about volunteer opportunities and our overall suc- Construction and Engineering cesses, please visit our website at www.acementor.org. You can also find us on www.acementor.org Facebook and Linkedin groups under ACE Mentor Program of Northeast Florida. ACE Mentor Program of NE FLorida Impacts Students, Mentors and Families! Student / Parent / Mentor Perspectives “The experience I have had with the “I really enjoyed being a part of it (ACE Senior Comments from ACE Mentor Program has been life chang- program). I especially enjoyed working with ing. Each year it is great to work with the the students from Orange Park HS, along Scholarship Receipients students and watch them grow during the with all the mentors. The students were so “I expect to face challenges and learn process. The end of the year presenta- enthusiastic. Joining them every week to new things while I’m in college, but I tions allow you to see what the students share was enjoyable and something that I believe that no other program has better have learned. I am always amazed at looked forward to.” prepared me for it than the ACE Mentor- what they create and the knowledge they Linda DeLeo, LEED AP, Mentor ing Program.” express. In the five years I have par- ticipated in the program, I have had the “I have been an ACE member for four “I learned a great deal of important opportunity to meet many amazing people, years and it has been amazing to watch lessons about architecture, construction, including students and other mentors. The the transformation of quiet young men and engineering and life in general through program has helped me to grow personally women into confident teams of presenters ACE. I have learned how to work well as well, as a leader and a public speaker. of complex with others, the importance of meeting It has truly been a great experience, one project is- deadlines, leadership, how to communi- that I will never forget.” sues. Every cate ideas, time management and public Jacob C. Thurlow, LEED AP, Haskell year I start speaking.” Mentor Team Leader at A. Philip Randolph the program with thoughts “When I make it, when I become suc- “The ACE Mentor Program has been a of, ‘How cessful, I will not forget about ACE and rewarding experience. It’s given me the are these plan to give back and be a generous opportunity to pair my excitement about students ever APR Mentors sponsor and mentor in the future.” teaching, going to get to education, be as good as the teams from the end of the “‘You must be the change you wish and learn- previous year?’ And every year, the students to see in the world’ - Mahatma Gandhi. ing with my have blown me away with how much they Thank you ACE for being that change. passion for learn, understand and present in outstanding I would like to take this opportunity to practicing fashion. It is really impressive to see how genuinely architecture. much of the knowledge of the mentors is thank you I always transferred to the students and how well the for all that Orange Park Mentors encourage students use their new found abilities. The you do and the students skills that the students gain in presentation will con- to push their creative boundaries while is as valuable, if not more valuable, than the tinue to do. remaining within the realm of practical industry training that they receive.” I will carry construction processes, as I strive for per- Ryan Fryman, PE, LEED AP BD+C, CxA on your sonally and professionally, to develop into Mentor, TLC Engineering for Architecture legacy and Englewood Mentors a more knowledgeable and experienced promise I will Architect.” “ACE has been a terrific program for me not let you down.” Tahir Edwards, AIA, Haskell throughout my high school years and now Mentor Team Leader at Orange Park college. The skills I learned from my mentors “ACE has opened so many doors High School and group projects I worked on really helped and created so many relationships for me with my college courses and prepared me me. I want to be successful not just for “The ACE Mentor Program of NE Flor- for an internship I’m currently doing this sum- my dad and myself, but for the others in ida has been an awesome experience for mer. I’m also very thankful for the scholar- my life.” our son, Demagio. This program is an ex- ship I was awarded from ACE to pay for my cellent way to get students exposed to this college education!” “Being a part of the ACE Mentoring profession. The program has given our Mercelin Etienne Program has given me the opportunity son the opportunity of internship with local UNF - Construction Management Junior & to gain several internship opportunities firms in the area. My husband and I are ACE Scholarship Receipient over the last two years.” so amazed at the level of dedication the companies take in this program. The col- Dedicated Teachers Make the Difference... laboration of project planning, mentoring, and educating are outstanding! ACE has helped our son be more creative, and to think outside of the box. He has definitely achieved leadership skills and presenting EHS’s skills through this program. The presenta- APR’s Ted Slappey Floyd Evans tion of the final projects is amazing!” Tasha Martin-Mansell, Parent OPHS’s Pat Michaels ACE Mentor Program of NE FLorida Impacts Students, Mentors and Families! The ACE-USGBC Sustainable Design Award Program The ACE Mentor Program of America (ACE) and the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) have created the Sustainable Design Award program exclusively for junior and senior high school students registered in the ACE program. The Award program is an optional addition to the regular ACE Mentor Program. Our affiliate participated in the pilot program last year. Earning the Sustainable Design Award will demonstrate that a student is able at a basic level to evaluate green buildings on strategies, elements of sustainable 2011 ACE Scholarship Winners design and construction, and benefits to the environment/occupant/owner. Partici- USGBC Greenbuild Scholarship the five this year with UNF Junior, Mercelin pation in the Award program will offer ACE Program Etienne, being selected. students an opportunity for one-on-one, USGBC has generously provided virtual mentoring with recognized experts several scholarship slots to the ACE in green design and construction practices. Mentor Program for all-inclusive trips to the Thanks to our Judges The ACE-USGBC Sustainable Design Greenbuild International Conference and Award program offers ACE students a Expo. Greenbuild is the ideal setting for Holly King, AIA, NAVFAC, Jacksonville valuable learning experience. Further, it those new to the green building industry John Irvin, Ajax Building Corporation points them along the path to eventually to learn from green experts, discover Keith M. Nix, P.E., McVeigh & Mangum becoming a LEED Accredited Professional.