H2M Awards STEAM Scholarships to High School Seniors
H2M architects + engineers presented scholarships to 12 high school seniors who are enrolling in science, technology, engineering, architecture, or math (STEAM) majors this year as college freshmen. During the official scholarship presentation ceremony, each student received $1,000 to further their educational journeys. Many also received citations from their local elected officials.
H2M’s human resources team sent scholarship applications to over 300 high schools from New Jersey, the Greater New York metropolitan area, the New York Capital Region, and Connecticut. From the more than 50 qualified applicants, an internal committee comprising H2Mers from all disciplines read through each application package and selected the top 12 students.
This year’s winners come from across Long Island, Westchester County, and New Jersey. They’re starting this new school year at a selection of impressive schools, including Harvard University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Stony Brook University, the U.S. Naval Academy, Drexel University, and the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Their expected majors range from mechanical and civil engineering to biochemical and molecular engineering to architecture and construction management.
The award ceremony opened with an introduction by Chief Human Resources Officer Liz Uzzo, SHRM-SCP, SPHR who described the history of H2M’s scholarship program, which began in the early 1990s.
Chief Operating Officer Joseph Mottola, AIA and Education Market Deputy Director Michael Lantier, P.E., LEED AP also spoke during the ceremony about their excitement for the potential in each scholar and the opportunities ahead of them to impact their communities.
“We at H2M are pumped and excited because what we do every single day makes a difference,” Mottola explained. “You guys are just starting your journey.”
Other H2M leaders, including Chief Financial Officer Jamie Pizzardi, CPA, attended in support of the students and their families. The ceremony concluded with a Q&A session, networking with senior leaders, and a tour of H2M’s corporate headquarters in Melville.
Other Ways to Get Involved
For younger high school students who are looking to learn about the architecture, engineering, and construction industries, H2M is proud to be a major participant in the ACE Mentor Program. This nationally recognized program provides valuable mentorship opportunities and inspiration for high school students. Each school year, H2M hosts an ACE Mentor Class of approximately 25 students who visit the office bi-weekly to work alongside staff. Throughout the year, students break into teams to work on real design projects that they later present to other ACE groups, their families, and mentors. H2M’s staff support their projects, answer questions about design procedures, and empower them to engage further with their desired industry. The ACE program is a popular gateway to internships, scholarships, and other opportunities at each of H2M’s offices.
