Boston – ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston held its 9th annual ACE Networking Event on June 22 at the Artists for Humanity Epicenter.
This year, ACE awarded the largest amount in scholarships since its inception, totaling $210,000, to 30 high school seniors in the Class of 2023. Varying from $1,000 to $20,000, the scholarships awarded to participating students in the Greater Boston area will support their college, university, or trade school education in these fields.
Guest speaker Lauren Jones, MA Secretary of Labor for the Commonwealth
Following two years of remote learning, students were able to return to hands-on, in-person sessions for their desired professions this past fall during the 2022-2023 school year. The students worked with their mentors to design emergency shelter sites for the aftermath of a hurricane in Boston, and each team created a unique response to the design prompt. As part of a strategic plan to grow, ACE added two new sites this school year: PCA Design in Cambridge and Roxbury Community College.
ACE relies on the support of partners and donors that help provide the resources for students to learn and experience the architecture, construction, and engineering industries first-hand. After years of supporting the mission of ACE, Boylston Properties offered to up the ante with a commitment of $125,000 over the course of five years, making Boylston Properties the official “Presenting Sponsor” of the ACE Networking Event in 2023 for the second year.
This year, ACE also partnered with the National Organization of Minority Architects’ Boston Chapter (bosNOMA) where they provided a series of workshops on careers in design.
ACE President Emeritus Mike Harris of National Development, Lauren Jones, and Justin MacEachern of Boylston Properties
“We’re beyond grateful for our industry partners, both as funders and as mentors, giving ACE students a multitude of reasons to return year after year,” said Jennifer Fries, executive director of ACE Mentor Program of Greater Boston. “Without the longstanding relationships and positive influence from our sponsors, making 2023 a milestone year for our scholarship program, we would not be able to impact as many students as we have and will continue to do so.”
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ACE was recognized this year with the Commonwealth Award by the Boston Society for Architecture. The ACE Mentor Program has awarded $1,267,500 in college and trade school scholarships since its creation in 2007.
