Northwest Students Participate in ACE Mentoring Program

“It is more than a place to land airplanes. It is time to celebrate the new addition into the community,” Midfield Terminal John Kish said. As part of the celebration of this $1.1 billion airport, the Indianapolis Airport Authority board members decided to host a beam signing that would permanently display the public’s signatures in the north vestiuble of the new airport. The celebration signing is part of the pinnacle of a 30-year master plan transforming into a permanent site by 2008. The beam traveled by truck in December for three-day tour to various schools including Ben Davis, Northwest, Aresenal Techincal high School, George Washington High School. The beam also made a stop to the Monument Circle to collect signatures.

It is important to note that collecting signatures from ACE students at Northwest High School, Arsenal Technical High School and Washington High School marked the recognition of the Architect, Construction and Engineering (ACE) Mentor chapter that started at the airport under the direction of Kish in 2005. Indianapolis is one of 88 ACE national chapters. ACE’s founder is Charles Thornton of Thornton Tomasetti Group. Kish explained there are discussions about creating a display in the new airport to recognition of the ACE program and the Northwest High School’s Mock Concourse C design.

“The program is designed to mentor urban children into a career oriented curriculum, Gary Gibson, assistant project director of midfield office program. Gibson explained Thornton asked Kish to start a chapter when he was here working on the new terminal.

The program allows students to become involved with architect, construction and engineering projects by visiting sites and creating a mock plans.

December 8th was a special day for Northwest students to sign the beam because of their participation at the Midfield Airport and new FAA Tower. Mark Mayer, Sr. Project Manager Systems of Hunt Construction Group, not only works on the new airport, but he is involved with ACE Mentor at Northwest High School

He talked about their past project of creating a mock Concourse C Design for the $1.1 billion Midfield Airport scheduled to open in 2008. The mock design paralleled the design expansion that is already in the wings. It is projected that Concourse C would be needed by 2030 even though the plans dubbed the time frame as 20XX.
Mayer said this year, the students are visiting the Kerasotes Theaters as part of their assignment to design a theater. The students have also visited Lucas Oil Stadium to observe construction.

Northwest Principal Roy Simpson said this is one of better programs he has been involved since his tenure at Northwest. It is the opportunity that students have to forge businesses ties in the work place that impressed Simpson the most about ACE. Simpson sees the circle of contacts as a great dividend for future jobs.

These businesses relationships have also assisted to provide summer employment and internships. Simpson sees these circle of contacts as a great dividend for future jobs. Simpson, an ACE board member, said this after school program is no cost to the school because it is funded by ACE. As part of the board, Simpson said they are always trying to recruit new businesses to become mentors.

Simpson noted that three students were awarded ACE scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $4,000. Kish explained there are discussions about creating a display in the new airport to recognition of the ACE program and the Northwest High School’s Mock Concourse C design.