Celebrating Student Innovation
ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland teams provide design solutions to local businesses By Rhonda Crowder | Photos by Alaina Battle
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his year’s ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland’s Spring Celebration was held in May at Windows on the River in The Flats. After two rigorous presentation days in April, teams of high school students from Garrett Morgan, Warrensville Heights and Shaker Heights emerged as the top three finalists among the overall 12 teams. All three had been there before, and two had held the top place, including the 2025 winner Warrensville Heights. Approximately 375 guests, including nearly 20 ACE Cleveland alumni – full-time employed and college students alike – all wanted to know: Who has the first place presentation? Quenton Davis, principal at Garrett Morgan School, sat patiently though with excitement, knowing his students have presented at ACE Cleveland’s Spring Celebration three or four times since joining the program. “I think the opportunity to have them exposed to – considering we are an engineering-based school – to see how what they learn in class can be implemented is invaluable,” said Davis, noting the merits of being LEADING THE WAY ACE Mentor Program of Cleveland’s graduating senior class takes the stage given a real-world problem to solve at the organization’s Spring Celebration. and the opportunity to practice preACE Cleveland Alumni Chase Construction, presented awards to two sentation skills. Davis says he believes Thompson, mechanical engineering educators. Angela Jones, senior manager of “the sky is the limit for all of the teams,” student at Ohio University, introduced government affairs with Northeast Ohio not just Garrett Morgan, and that all of the evening’s judging panel: Katie Regional Sewer District and the 2025 the students should be proud of what Borders, president of University Circle Courtney Behm Exemplary Volunteer/ they’ve accomplished. Incorporated; Tim Tramble, president/ Mentor of the Year, introduced this year’s “I don’t think there’s anything, as a CEO at St. Luke’s Foundation; and Alex recipient of that award: Samantha Meyer, school, we could have done to give them Pesta, partner at City Architecture. interior designer with AODK Architects. this level of exposure,” he added. Given eight minutes to present their Additionally, $145,000 in scholarships As the program began, Kaitlyn proposal, each team discussed their were presented during this event. Boniecki, from AODK Architecture, selection process, provided historical When the judges took the stage to provided the project overview. This context, detailed their project timeline announce the winner, Tramble, who year’s ACE Cleveland Request for and shared some form of 3D models/renacknowledged each team for an outstandProposal, dubbed the “Local Business dering or handouts with judges. Garrett ing performance, said, “Deliberations Design Assistance Program,” called for Morgan chose Mason’s Creamery. Shaker were not easy.” teams to identify a business, non-profit “We are watching the future leaders of or organization within a 1.5-mile radius Heights selected the Shaker Historical Society. And Warrensville Heights went the city of Cleveland and our region,” he of their school, identify an area of their with E.F. Boyd & Son’s Funeral Home. continued. “The future is bright.” space or business that could benefit While waiting for results from the Borders described the selection process from design intervention, and provide judges, the program continued with as “splitting hairs,” noting that “all three a meaningful, thoughtful solution that awards, recognitions and scholarwere absolutely incredible. I would take needed to include at least one build-out. ship presentations. ACE Cleveland them beyond the city and the world.” Boniecki explained that the teams Alumni Bakari Ballard, project engineer After announcing Garrett Morgan needed to talk to the owner and gather at Gilbane, took the opportunity to as the honorable mentions, the judges community feedback as well as provide encourage employers seeking talent to declared Warrensville Heights the that data and cost analysis. The presentaconsider ACE Cleveland alumni. first ACE Cleveland team to secure tions were judged on the team’s ability to Janelle Hinkle, vice president of first place for two consecutive years. think critically and thoughtfully, reason construction operations at Regency The Warrensville Heights team is coand collaborate on the design challenge. www.propertiesmag.com 33