Project Engineer Volunteers as ACE Mentor
The Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church project in Fairfax, Va.
One of our colleagues, Tyler Morris, is volunteering his time as a mentor with the ACE Mentor Program, open to any high school student who has the curiosity and drive to learn about a career in design and construction — from contracting and engineering to architecture and landscaping.
A Virginia Tech grad with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, Tyler joined Coakley & Williams Construction (CWC) in early 2019 as a Project Engineer. He is currently working at our Saint Mary of Sorrows Catholic Church project in Fairfax, Virginia. Outside of his job responsibilities, Tyler participates in the after school mentoring program.
About ACE
Founded in 1994, the ACE Mentor Program of America (ACE) is a free, award-winning program designed to attract high school students into pursuing careers in the Architecture, Construction and Engineering industry, including skilled trades. Over 10,000 students participate annually, drawn from approximately 1,100 high schools in 37 states. 4,100 industry professionals volunteer their time as mentors through the program.
Tyler Morris says, “Most of the mentorship programs have canceled due to COVID-19. We are a case study to continue on virtually and we’ve had positive feedback from the students.”
This year there are 10 students in the ACE Mentor Program at Thomas Edison High School. In addition to Tyler, mentors in the program include an architect from Dwell Design Studio and two Assistant Project Managers from HITT. The program’s structure has adjusted slightly, given current conditions, but the mentors and students remain committed. They hold virtual coaching meetings every other week where the mentors provide firsthand, personal experience through their current roles in the A/E/C industry. Additionally, they are teaching the students about sustainable design and LEED requirements, and occasionally bring in guest speakers to give virtual lectures on their select areas of expertise.
Coakley & Williams Construction is dedicated to giving back because what we are building goes beyond structures and spaces. Through volunteering our time and resources, we proudly support our local community by focusing our efforts on promoting the construction trades and education, providing opportunities for students to learn, grow and gain real time experience within the construction industry. We are proud of Tyler for being a community leader to these high school students who want to follow the A/E/C path and for stepping up to the virtual plate during this time of social distancing.