Oregon Building Congress banquet honors educators, leaders

Daily Journal of Commerce (Portland, OR), Oct 10, 2008 by Sam Bennett

When Orlando Zurita-Rodriguez learned that he would be attending the Academy for Architecture, Construction and Engineering, he said he felt both scared and thrilled.

"I never had an opportunity like this before," said Rodriguez, a senior at Centennial High School. "I applied at ACE because I have a great interest in becoming an architect. ACE is not a normal school. I learn more quickly and efficiently because it's hands-on."

Rodriguez was one of several students who praised ACE at the Oregon Building Congress annual banquet on Wednesday evening at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry.

The Oregon Building Congress, in partnership with Centennial, Gresham-Barlow, Parkrose and Reynolds school districts recently opened ACE at 4222 N.E. 158th Ave. It is a public, tuition-free charter high school. Students and educators said the school has been a success in its first few weeks. OBC, based in Wilsonville, helps Oregon students by linking them with educational opportunities in construction-related fields.

Marjan Rotting, a science, engineering and architecture teacher at the school, said ACE is an integration of academia and industry.

"It is our vision to produce students who behave in an adultlike manner, so that by the time they join an industry they already have enough information that they will be able to show up to work on time and be able to understand instructions," said Rotting. "Our industry requires cohesive communication between architects, engineers and construction people, so we're making our students understand all those aspects."

At the banquet, Robert McKean and Karen Fischer Gray were recognized as Educators of the Year. Fischer Gray said her "greatest source of pride is working for the children" at ACE.McKean said his role is helping students find their passions. "If they can find their passion, the rest is so much easier," he said.

Several speakers addressed the importance of having a well- educated workforce and creating ties between businesses and education.

Matthew Scroggins, a junior at Sandy High School who this summer worked in an OBC Construction Academy program, said before he entered ACE he had low self-confidence and "always thought I wouldn't accomplish anything."

"This has given me a positive self-image," he said. "Now I know I can do a good job, love it and get paid good money. I love hard work. When I am 18, I am going into an apprenticeship with laborers and put in all my years until I retire with them."