Accessibility Statement Skip Navigation
  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • GDPR
  • Create a Free Account
Return to PRWeb homepage
  • News
  • Resources
  • Contact
When typing in this field, a list of search results will appear and be automatically updated as you type.

Searching for your content...

No results found. Please change your search terms and try again.
  • News in Focus
      • Browse News Releases

      • All News Releases
      • Multimedia Gallery

      • All Multimedia
      • All Photos
      • All Videos
  • Business & Money
      • Auto & Transportation

      • Aerospace, Defense
      • Air Freight
      • Airlines & Aviation
      • Automotive
      • Maritime & Shipbuilding
      • Railroads and Intermodal Transportation
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Transportation, Trucking & Railroad
      • Travel
      • Trucking and Road Transportation
      • View All Auto & Transportation

      • Business Technology

      • Blockchain
      • Broadcast Tech
      • Computer & Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Components
      • Electronic Design Automation
      • Financial Technology
      • High Tech Security
      • Internet Technology
      • Nanotechnology
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Semiconductors
      • View All Business Technology

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Financial Services & Investing

      • Accounting News & Issues
      • Acquisitions, Mergers and Takeovers
      • Banking & Financial Services
      • Bankruptcy
      • Bond & Stock Ratings
      • Conference Call Announcements
      • Contracts
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Dividends
      • Earnings
      • Earnings Forecasts & Projections
      • Financing Agreements
      • Insurance
      • Investments Opinions
      • Joint Ventures
      • Mutual Funds
      • Private Placement
      • Real Estate
      • Restructuring & Recapitalization
      • Sales Reports
      • Shareholder Activism
      • Shareholder Meetings
      • Stock Offering
      • Stock Split
      • Venture Capital
      • View All Financial Services & Investing

      • General Business

      • Awards
      • Commercial Real Estate
      • Corporate Expansion
      • Earnings
      • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
      • Human Resource & Workforce Management
      • Licensing
      • New Products & Services
      • Obituaries
      • Outsourcing Businesses
      • Overseas Real Estate (non-US)
      • Personnel Announcements
      • Real Estate Transactions
      • Residential Real Estate
      • Small Business Services
      • Socially Responsible Investing
      • Surveys, Polls and Research
      • Trade Show News
      • View All General Business

  • Science & Tech
      • Consumer Technology

      • Artificial Intelligence
      • Blockchain
      • Cloud Computing/Internet of Things
      • Computer Electronics
      • Computer Hardware
      • Computer Software
      • Consumer Electronics
      • Cryptocurrency
      • Data Analytics
      • Electronic Commerce
      • Electronic Gaming
      • Financial Technology
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Multimedia & Internet
      • Peripherals
      • Social Media
      • STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Math)
      • Supply Chain/Logistics
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Consumer Technology

      • Energy & Natural Resources

      • Alternative Energies
      • Chemical
      • Electrical Utilities
      • Gas
      • General Manufacturing
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Oil & Energy
      • Oil and Gas Discoveries
      • Utilities
      • Water Utilities
      • View All Energy & Natural Resources

      • Environ­ment

      • Conservation & Recycling
      • Environmental Issues
      • Environmental Policy
      • Environmental Products & Services
      • Green Technology
      • Natural Disasters
      • View All Environ­ment

      • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Aerospace & Defense
      • Agriculture
      • Chemical
      • Construction & Building
      • General Manufacturing
      • HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning)
      • Machinery
      • Machine Tools, Metalworking and Metallurgy
      • Mining
      • Mining & Metals
      • Paper, Forest Products & Containers
      • Precious Metals
      • Textiles
      • Tobacco
      • View All Heavy Industry & Manufacturing

      • Telecomm­unications

      • Carriers and Services
      • Mobile Entertainment
      • Networks
      • Peripherals
      • Telecommunications Equipment
      • Telecommunications Industry
      • VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol)
      • Wireless Communications
      • View All Telecomm­unications

  • Lifestyle & Health
      • Consumer Products & Retail

      • Animals & Pets
      • Beers, Wines and Spirits
      • Beverages
      • Bridal Services
      • Cannabis
      • Cosmetics and Personal Care
      • Fashion
      • Food & Beverages
      • Furniture and Furnishings
      • Home Improvement
      • Household, Consumer & Cosmetics
      • Household Products
      • Jewelry
      • Non-Alcoholic Beverages
      • Office Products
      • Organic Food
      • Product Recalls
      • Restaurants
      • Retail
      • Supermarkets
      • Toys
      • View All Consumer Products & Retail

      • Entertain­ment & Media

      • Advertising
      • Art
      • Books
      • Entertainment
      • Film and Motion Picture
      • Magazines
      • Music
      • Publishing & Information Services
      • Radio & Podcast
      • Television
      • View All Entertain­ment & Media

      • Health

      • Biometrics
      • Biotechnology
      • Clinical Trials & Medical Discoveries
      • Dentistry
      • FDA Approval
      • Fitness/Wellness
      • Health Care & Hospitals
      • Health Insurance
      • Infection Control
      • International Medical Approval
      • Medical Equipment
      • Medical Pharmaceuticals
      • Mental Health
      • Pharmaceuticals
      • Supplementary Medicine
      • View All Health

      • Sports

      • General Sports
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Sporting Events
      • Sports Equipment & Accessories
      • View All Sports

      • Travel

      • Amusement Parks and Tourist Attractions
      • Gambling & Casinos
      • Hotels and Resorts
      • Leisure & Tourism
      • Outdoors, Camping & Hiking
      • Passenger Aviation
      • Travel Industry
      • View All Travel

  • Policy & Public Interest
      • Policy & Public Interest

      • Advocacy Group Opinion
      • Animal Welfare
      • Congressional & Presidential Campaigns
      • Corporate Social Responsibility
      • Domestic Policy
      • Economic News, Trends, Analysis
      • Education
      • Environmental
      • European Government
      • FDA Approval
      • Federal and State Legislation
      • Federal Executive Branch & Agency
      • Foreign Policy & International Affairs
      • Homeland Security
      • Labor & Union
      • Legal Issues
      • Natural Disasters
      • Not For Profit
      • Patent Law
      • Public Safety
      • Trade Policy
      • U.S. State Policy
      • View All Policy & Public Interest

  • People & Culture
      • People & Culture

      • Aboriginal, First Nations & Native American
      • African American
      • Asian American
      • Children
      • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
      • Hispanic
      • Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual
      • Men's Interest
      • People with Disabilities
      • Religion
      • Senior Citizens
      • Veterans
      • Women
      • View All People & Culture

  • Hamburger menu
  • Cision PRWeb provides efficient communication tools to continuously engage with target audiences across multiple online channels
  • Create a Free Account
    • ALL CONTACT INFO
    • Contact Us


      11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday

  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • News in Focus
    • Browse All News
    • Multimedia Gallery
  • Business & Money
    • Auto & Transportation
    • Business Technology
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Financial Services & Investing
    • General Business
  • Science & Tech
    • Consumer Technology
    • Energy & Natural Resources
    • Environ­ment
    • Heavy Industry & Manufacturing
    • Telecomm­unications
  • Lifestyle & Health
    • Consumer Products & Retail
    • Entertain­ment & Media
    • Health
    • Sports
    • Travel
  • Policy & Public Interest
  • People & Culture
    • People & Culture
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR
  • Send a Release
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Resources
  • RSS
  • GDPR

ACE Mentor Program Cleveland Awards Eight Students More Than $120,000, Boosts Diversity in Architecture, Construction and Engineering


News provided by

Gilbane Building Company

Jun 14, 2023, 08:00 ET

Share this article

Share toX

Share this article

Share toX

At its recent end-of-school-year annual celebration, the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland (ACE Cleveland) awarded more than $120,000 in scholarships to eight Cleveland-area students.
At its recent end-of-school-year annual celebration, the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland (ACE Cleveland) awarded more than $120,000 in scholarships to eight Cleveland-area students.

Gilbane-supported program enriches the academic experience, connects students to mentors and real-life learning experiences, and provides financial support for ongoing education.

CLEVELAND, June 14, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- At its recent end-of-school-year annual celebration, the ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland (ACE Cleveland) awarded more than $120,000 in scholarships to eight Cleveland-area students to help them continue their education and training in architecture, construction, engineering, or the skilled trades.

With more than 80% of ACE Cleveland scholars identifying as Black American, Hispanic/Latino, or Mixed Race/Ethnic Heritage and 50% of ACE Cleveland scholars identifying as female, the program has a positive impact on diversity in ACE education and serves as a pipeline for building diversity in the workforce in architecture, construction, and engineering.

“Our success depends on a steady stream of talented young people entering our industry and helping us build the workforce of tomorrow,” said Kyle Merrill, Vice President, Cleveland Business Leader at Gilbane Building Company.

Post this

"Our success depends on a steady stream of talented young people entering our industry and helping us build the workforce of tomorrow," said Kyle Merrill, Vice President, Cleveland Business Leader at Gilbane Building Company. "As a founding member of the ACE Mentor Program in Cleveland, we are committed to volunteering and mentoring ACE scholars each school year. The hands-on approach to learning about the industry is invaluable."

ACE Cleveland scholars work in teams, with the help of their mentors, to learn about the industry and compete to win ACE Cleveland's project of the year by designing a construction project. The 2022-23 ACE Cleveland RFP called for a design-build approach for a vocational school dedicated to architecture, construction, and engineering education.

RJ Frato, Jr., a project engineer at Gilbane Building Co., is one of ACE Cleveland's approximately 120 mentors and volunteers. He has worked with the ACE program for five years, most recently with the team from Shaker Heights High School. The Shaker Heights team was one of three finalists in 2023, for their design for a "SpACE Center" including a mobile learning unit.

"As a mentor, I can share what I've learned throughout my career with young people just starting out. I can give back to the community and offer additional support that I didn't receive as a high school student," said Frato. "It's gratifying to see how much the students grow over the course of the year."

One of the students Frato worked with this school year, Shaker Heights junior Rowan Dunn, had an externship with Gilbane and is planning to go into construction management in college. "During my externship with Gilbane, I worked at the Woodland library branch in Cleveland," said Dunn. "It was invaluable and solidified my interest in construction."

As ACE Cleveland scholars plan for their college career, they can compete for scholarships. Students competing for scholarships were evaluated on several factors, including an essay, reference letters, test scores, academics, and participation in extracurricular activities. A key part of the evaluation was each student's level of participation, teamwork, and leadership within the ACE program.

Amir Midgett, a senior on Gilbane's ACE team at Shaker Heights High School, earned a total of $34,000 through the ACE Mentor Program for four years at Kent State University, where he plans to study Architecture. Midgett's scholarship includes $4,500 a year from ACE Cleveland, $1,500 a year in matching scholarship from Kent State, and the ACE National CMiC Scholarship for $10,000. "My interest in Architecture began when I took a random design class in high school. I joined ACE last year and had the opportunity to lead our team this year," said Midgett. "RJ from Gilbane has been one of my biggest motivators. I consider everyone here my family. ACE has really laid the groundwork for my future."

In addition to college scholarships, this year ACE Cleveland also awarded a scholarship to a student interested in joining the skilled trades. Cameron Dilliard, a senior at Max Hayes High School interested in carpentry, painting and drywalling, received a $1,500 scholarship that can be used for books, tuition, tools, apprentice fees or personal protective equipment. The scholarship is supported by Construction Employers Association (CEA), Carpenters Association, Building Laborers' Local 310, and Cleveland Builds.

Other scholarship recipients across the program include:

  • Shaker Heights senior Christian Dennis, who plans to attend the University of Akron to study mechanical engineering, received a $1,500 renewable award sponsored by ACE Cleveland, and a $1,500 renewable match from the University of Akron, for a four-year total of $12,000.
  • Chase Thompson from John Hay High School plans to study engineering at The Ohio State University and received a $2,500 renewable award for a four-year total of $10,000, sponsored by ACE Cleveland.
  • Michael Johnson, East Technical High School, plans to pursue engineering at the University of Akron. Sponsored by ACE Cleveland, Michael is receiving a $2,000 renewable award, combined with Akron's renewable match of $1,500 makes for a four-year total of $14,000.
  • Samuel Dillenbeck from Shaker Heights High School received a $2,500 renewable scholarship from ACE Cleveland, which combined with a renewable match of $1,500 from University Akron where he will study engineering, brings his four-year total award to $16,000.
  • John Marshall High School's Diaa Khaled earned a $3,000 renewable award from ACE Cleveland and a matching scholarship of $1,500 a year from Cleveland State University, where he plans to study engineering. Diaa's four-year scholarship amount is $18,000.

And, for the first time in ACE Cleveland's history, a scholarship was awarded to a college graduate seeking to pursue a graduate degree. Jyae McWilson, a 2018 graduate of John Hay High School participated in the ACE Cleveland program for two years and graduated from Kent State University's College of Architecture and Environmental Design. She is planning to earn her master's degree in architecture at Kent State University through its three-semester program. Jyae is receiving $5,000 per semester for a total award of $15,000.

Since its inception in 2008, ACE Cleveland has provided more than $1.4 million in scholarships to over 180 students and guided nearly 2,000 students through the program. ACE works in partnership with Cleveland Metropolitan School District, Warrensville Heights High School, and Shaker Heights High School. Gilbane professionals are among approximately 120 volunteers from more than 70 local firms from the design, engineering, and construction industries who serve as mentors in the program.

About Gilbane Building Company
Gilbane provides a full slate of construction and facilities-related services – from preconstruction planning and integrated consulting capabilities to comprehensive construction management, general contracting, design-build, and facility management services – for clients across various markets. Founded in 1870 and still a privately held, family-owned company, Gilbane has more than 45 office locations worldwide. Gilbane is one of the most established and leading construction managers in the Northeast Ohio market and averages more than $500 million in revenue in the state annually. For more information, visit http://www.gilbaneco.com.

Media Contact

Breanne Auxier, Gilbane Building Company, 312-614-3883, [email protected]

SOURCE Gilbane Building Company

Modal title

Contact PRWeb

  • 11AM ET Sunday – 8PM ET Friday
  • Contact Us

About PRWeb

  • About PRWeb
  • Partners
  • Partnership Programs
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Resources

Why PRWeb

  • Why PRWeb
  • How It Works
  • Who Uses It
  • Pricing

Accounts

  • Create a Free Account
  • Log in
  • Contact Us

Do not sell or share my personal information:

  • Submit via [email protected] 
  • Call Privacy toll-free: 877-297-8921

Contact Cision

Products

About

My Services
  • All News Releases
  • Online Member Center
  • ProfNet
Cision Distribution Helpline
888-776-0942
  • Legal
  • Site Map
  • RSS
  • Cookie Settings
Copyright © 2025 Cision US Inc.