North Springs Charter Students Inducted Into ACE Mentor Program

22 North Springs’ students, all members of the school’s Architecture, Construction and Design Club (ACDC), were recently inducted into the ACE Mentor Program.

The students were inducted during a VIP reception celebrating the new partnership between the school and the industry-sponsored construction trade mentoring program.

The partnership provides an opportunity for students to learn about various skilled trades and careers in the construction industry through hands-on activities, guest speakers and field trips with ACE mentors, all of whom are volunteers and construction industry professionals.

ACE, (Architecture, Construction and Engineering), is the construction industry’s fastest growing high school mentoring program.

Holder Construction’s Amy Tribo, a member of the school’s ACDC Advisory board, is the ACE Atlanta board chair and program director helping coordinate the program at North Springs.

“What is so exciting about our partnership with North Springs is that this is our first team in Atlanta that is focused on the skilled trades,” she said.

And the focus on skilled trades is just what the ACDC club members and the school were looking for.

As Principal Dr. Eddie Ruiz said in his welcoming remarks, “we see this as a springboard for future career course pathways, work-based learning internships and apprentice opportunities for our students - in an industry that is in need of a skilled work force for rewarding and well-paying jobs.”

At North Springs, the ACE Mentor Program will be part of the ACDC club agenda for the next 14 weeks. The first week focused on safety; the second week students reviewed construction documents for the school’s new front entrance.

“Next week we’ll go on our first job- site field trip to Cox Tower 2, a Holder Construction project in Sandy Springs, said club co-sponsor and department chair Scott Greb. “Our students are very excited. They love these experiences and hands-on opportunities.”

North Springs Charter High School, located at 7447 Roswell Road in Sandy Springs, offers students four Academies, including the Career,Technical and Leadership Academy and the only dual magnet programs in Math/Science and Visual/Performing Arts in Georgia.

More information about the school can be found on its website at www.northspringshigh.com.

Photo 1: 17 of the 22 North Springs ACE Mentor Inductees sport their new hard hats recieved at their VIP “Hard Hat Induction Ceremony” attended by over 80 guests including 13 industry professionals, Sandy Springs community leaders, parents, faculty and staff. Andy Veal, Brian Bishop, Principal Dr. Eddie Ruiz, Marquez Smith, Quanterious Downs, Quincey Robin, Aqui-B’Nek Wingo, Genesis Davis, Isaiah Wade, Tre’Jon Singletary, Front row: Cassandra Chu, Namoonga Chilomo, Christian Harper, Jacques Agbenu, Ben Padmore, Nivi Bash, and Jamilia Wood

Photo 2: Charles Crosby, ACDC board and President CORE Project Management, Carolyn Axt, Work-Force Development Chair, Sandy Springs Perimeter Chamber and Executive Director Leadership Sandy Springs, Jack Tipton, ACE Regional Director, and Jeanie Janson, ACE Atlanta Board Member with KSI Structural Engineers flank ACDC club president, North Springs’ junior, Christian Harper. They were among the many industry professionals and civic leaders at the reception and induction ceremony.

Photo 3: Sophomores Felicity Termure and Cassadra Chu, and freshman Claudia Chu, secretary for ACDC, await the “Hard Hat Induction Ceremony.”

Photo 4: Scott Greb, Career Tech Department Chair, ACDC Advisory Board Chair and ACDC co-sponsor, Yalanda Bell, Executive Director, Career Preparation and Technical Education, Fulton County School System and North Springs’ Principal, Dr. Eddie Ruiz

Photo 5: North Springs’ ACDC Advisory Board poses for a photo after the successful kickoff of the ACE Mentor Program at the school: Mike Kenig, Vice Chair Holder Construction, Marcy Louza, attorney and NSCHS parent, Charles Crosby, President CORE Management, Jack Tipton, ACE Regional Director, Amy Tibo, Holder Construction Manager of Business Development, ACE Atlanta Board Chair and program director coordinating the program at North Springs, Scott Greb, ACDC Advisory board chair and club co-sponsor, and Carol Ciepluch, Communications and Public Relations Liaison at NSCHS

Photo 6: Michael Dunham, CEO of Associated General Contractors of Georgia, Inc. with ACDC club treasurer Quincey Robin and Mike Kenig, Vice Chair Holder Construction and ACDC Advisory Board member

Credits: North Springs Charter High School