A FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE:
THE ACE MENTORSHIP EXPERIENCE
Student publisher Charli Campbell has experienced firsthand how being an ACE Greater Boston mentor can introduce young people to careers in architecture, construction, and engineering. At ACE Greater Boston’ s Annual Networking & Fundraising Celebration on June 4, she had the opportunity to hear from students and alumni who have taken that experience beyond the program and into college, internships and the early stages of their careers.
More than 150 students completed the ACE Greater Boston program this year, which was supported by more than 150 industry mentors, and 32 graduating seniors received a record $ 279,000 in scholarships. But beyond the numbers, the experiences of ACE alumni show how early exposure to the industry can influence the paths students take next.
For Emily Giovanardi, ACE helped turn an interest in architecture into something she could envision as a career, while mentorship throughout her education has continued to shape her development as a designer.
“ I would say that the ACE mentorship I received in high school helped the design world become real for me, if that makes sense. It had always been something I wanted to do, but seeing the professionals that were my mentors and learning about their jobs, the ongoing projects, and their overall experiences made the goal of being an architect seem more reachable and exciting. Furthermore, the mentorship that I’ ve experienced through my higher education has been beneficial in guiding my design learning. My professors have been open-minded in their feedback on my projects, and it has helped me take my own design ideas to a better level.”
That exposure can also make the transition into on-the-job experience less intimidating. Giancarlo Martinis Torres credits ACE with helping him become more comfortable communicating with people in the industry before beginning an internship.
“ I think ACE really helped with how to communicate with people more than anything. By meeting people in the industry, I already felt comfortable in the environment at my internship. I think the second time doing anything is always better than the first, so having ACE be somewhat of my first time made it much easier to transition to real work.”
For Sam O’ Donnell, ACE helped shape not only his understanding of the industry, but also the direction of his education.
“ My years as a student in ACE exposed me to a world of opportunities I would’ ve never seen otherwise. First of all, the weekly speakers and annual design project gave me a window into the many disciplines that support the built environment. Additionally, the support in finding a technical internship as a high school student was a transformative experience for me. It shaped my career interests, helped me pick civil engineering as my major, likely helped me get into Northeastern, and has shown initiative as I apply for co-ops.”
That support has continued as O’ Donnell has moved into college and begun pursuing co-op opportunities.
Yordy Tesfaye and Pedro Sifre
“ ACE continues to support me in my college years, as I received a scholarship that goes to my yearly tuition, and the strong ACE alumni and mentor network has given me valuable connections as I look for co-ops. I can’ t thank those who make ACE possible enough, and would recommend it to any high school student.”
The impact of ACE can also come full circle. Yordy Tesfaye spent three years in the ACE program, where she was mentored by longtime ACE Greater Boston founder and mentor Michael A. Tecci. Today, Tesfaye is a project manager at Shawmut Design and Construction and an ACE mentor herself. At this year’ s event, she received the inaugural Michael A. Tecci Outstanding ACE Mentor Award, presented by Pedro Sifre, principal at Simpson Gumpertz & Heger.
Tesfaye’ s path from ACE student to industry professional and mentor reflects the cycle the program aims to create: introducing students to the AEC industry, helping them build relationships and gain experience, and ultimately creating opportunities for them to support the students coming behind them.
For Campbell, speaking with ACE alumni offered a different perspective on a program she knows firsthand as a mentor. Their experiences showed how the relationships and exposure ACE provides can continue to shape students’ education and careers long after they complete the program.
10 NEXTGEN AEC STUDENT EDITION 2026