Roger Williams University Builds Community Connections with ACE Mentorship Program
RWU works to inspire the next generation of designers, builders, and innovators by giving high school students in the ACE Mentor Program an inside look at its Architecture and SECCM programs.
BRISTOL, R.I. – Roger Williams University hosted 20 high school students from the Greater Providence area on the Bristol campus late last month to give them a first-hand look at the Cummings School of Architecture and the School of Engineering, Computing, and Construction Management (SECCM). The students are part of the ACE Mentor Program, which stands for architecture, construction, and engineering. It’s a national non-profit that connects high school students interested in those fields with local professionals and universities.
ACE Students toured RWU’s facilities and spoke with professors about what the programs offer, the application process, and financial aid options. They also spoke with current RWU students who had participated in the ACE Program when they were in high school and now are pursuing their educational studies in architecture, construction management, and engineering.
“ACE helped me in a lot of ways,” said Darian Jenkins, a first-year Architecture major from Providence, R.I. “It really exposed me to a network of professionals, and I feel like it really helped create opportunities for me. Being from a background where there weren’t good opportunities, it really helped me stay focused on the goal, rather than my environment.”
“I think ACE helped me realize and appreciate the different disciplines in this industry,” said Jasmine Darley, a junior Construction Management major from Coventry, R.I. “It was helpful to hear from different industry professionals, what they do and how their roles differ. ACE helped me realize that the physical construction side was best suited to me.”
ACE has previously been involved with Roger Williams University through the School of Architecture, but there’s a new push to encompass RWU’s construction and engineering programs, too.
“This visit is a meaningful way for us to connect with our wider community and show how RWU is one of the few places where students can explore the full building industry through strong programs in Construction, Engineering, and Architecture,” said Gökhan Çelik, Interim Dean of SECCM.