The ACE Mentor Program of Greater Philadelphia welcomed its first Delaware County team in the Fall of 2019. Students from Springfield High School and other Delaware County schools who are interested in pursuing careers in the design and construction industry began meeting in November of 2019. The team consists of 15 – 20 students who attend two-hour long sessions with ACE Team Leaders Dave Ferraiolo, of the Norwood Company, and Troy Emidy, of Streamline Commercial Development, every other week.
Ferraiolo and Emidy have been introducing their students to various guest speakers from the industry, engaging them in activities focused on developing their skill sets, and coordinating a collaborative mock-design project for this Spring. Design, engineering, and problem solving concepts are then applied to a challenge that students work on in small groups. Students are encouraged to develop the 21st Century Skills that are instrumental in presenting themselves to a prospective employer, consulting with a colleague, and managing a team.
The group recently visited the construction site of the new Springfield High School. After donning safety helmets, goggles, and reflective vests, students toured the entire structure where the project manager pointed out each phase of the building’s progress including plumbing and heating, network and electrical cabling, concrete and steelwork, masonry, and many other design and structural details.
In February students will tour the Amerihealth Caritas Project in Newtown Square to observe the progress of their new campus.
Team Delco
