See It • Build It • Know It
See It • Build It • Know It
Mario's Kids Scholarships -- In 1998, the Salvadori Center introduced the Mario's Kids Scholarships to spotlight former students whose lives were changed dramatically by their participation in Salvadori On-Site Programs. These students, now excelling in their high school or college courses, have set their sights on successful professional careers.
Christian Cedacero. Currently a ninth grader at West Bronx Academy for the Future [in the Bronx], Christian describes himself as unafraid of new challenges and won't let his goals be defeated. One of his first challenges was the language barrier--his family hails from Ecuador. One of his teachers says, "His quest for knowledge, perseverance and drive set him apart.Christian consistently raises the bar with the quality and quantity of work he does in class." This year, Christian worked on a project that showed how systems of the body relate to parts of a building and also designed a chair out of cardboard. He plans to be a pilot or scientist and says that Salvadori is helping him reach his goals.
Augustina Robinson. Augustina says that being the youngest of six and the only girl in the family taught her to stand up for herself and to do the best in any situation. She names architect-educator Al Isaac as an inspiring role model who encouraged her to think creatively at the Pablo Neruda Academy for Architecture and World Studies in the Bronx. One of her major projects in ninth grade was the design of a bridge connecting Long Island and Co-Op City in the Bronx. Her teacher says, "Without being instructed, she surveyed local residents and researched the impact a bridge would have on the Co-Op City community. This was just one example of how she always gave 110%." Augustina plans to study pre-law in college.
Jason James. Head of his school's light and sound crew, troubleshooter for its media centers, Jason identifies his mother and music and science teachers as the people who most inspired and supported him in his pursuit of a career in music. He credits his Salvadori project work with helping him develop the logical thinking skills, the focus and attention to detail that he will need to become a sound engineer. One of his teachers describes Jason as a "caring, kind person who consistently works hard in community activities and is one of the most outstanding students ever to attend The Renaissance Charter School [in Jackson Heights]." Jason plans to study both music and technology in college.
Michael Bennett Memorial Scholarship -- In early 1999, Michael Bennett, a promising 14 year-old high school freshman was tragically and senselessly killed over the outcome of a basketball game. During his three years in the Salvadori Prep Academy of Walt Whitman Intermediate School in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, Michael developed an ambitious goal -- to become an Air Force pilot and computer engineer. The scholarship was created to honor Michael's accomplishments and potential, and to encourage other middle school students to strive for success through education.
Quang Vo. Quang credits his family for encouraging him to excel in school. One of his teachers describes him as "always focused on his work, a leader and always striving to do better." He says he was excited to have architecture-educator Pat Shuford in his class [at the West Bronx Academy for Architecture and World Studies] and believes architecture is "the number one best in the whole wide world." Outside of school, he is involved with a Vietnamese cultural program and likes to sketch new inventions and make Lego models of them. He plans to actually build his models as an architect one day.
Al Isaac Memorial Scholarship -- In December 2004, the Salvadori community mourned the untimely death of 36-year old Al Isaac, the senior architect-educator at the Salvadori Center. The Center established this award to honor and encourage his former students to pursue higher education.
Christopher Jimenez. Christopher knew from an early age that he was creative and thought differently from the rest. Apart from his parents, he attributes his growth as a thinker and student to Al Isaac. "Just by listening to him, you could tell that he was a man of character and hard work.That man changed my life. He was more than just a mentor-he was my best friend." One of his teachers says of him: "I am always thrilled to listen to him explain his thought process and conclusions and I'm surprised by his depth of thinking. He enlivens discussions with his wit and insight." Over the years, he has been very active with Salvadori programs [at the Pablo Neruda Academy for Architecture and World Studies] and has won bridge-building and design contests. Though he wants to pursue a career in writing, he intends to gain a complete education in college by studying philosophy, quantum physics, psychology and theology.
Our founder, Mario Salvadori, a world-renowned structural engineer, believed that the built environment held all the knowledge that a person needed to be an intelligent and active member of the community. What teachers need to make this knowledge available to their students are tools with which they can "unpack" the knowledge embedded in the built environment.
The Salvadori Center gives these tools to teachers and students through a pedagogy grounded in what it calls "project-based, hands-on/minds-on activities" that employ the principles of architecture, engineering, and the design process. Through this method, teachers and their students can unlock the math, science, art, and humanities embodied in the structures and systems that surround them.