Wentworth Students Honored at Building Bridges Awards and STEM Relaunch

A Wentworth Institute of Technology student was awarded a significant scholarship, and several others were recognized for their contributions to design and innovation, during the recent Building Bridges Award and Relaunch Ceremony held in Boston.

The event, hosted at Joe's Waterfront, marked a major milestone for the nonprofit organization founded by President and CEO of Janey Construction Management Gregory B. Janey, '82, '04, HON. '17. While the evening served to unveil the organization's refreshed logo and renewed mission to expand access to STEM education for underrepresented communities, it also highlighted the strong partnership between Building Bridges and Wentworth.

Celebrating Student Success

Richard Cancoule, a Wentworth student, was the recipient of the Gregory B. Janey Scholarship. This $2,500 award was presented to Cancoule to recognize his exceptional talent and steadfast commitment to community impact.

The university's Division for Inclusive Excellence has been working closely with the nonprofit, resulting in active participation from the student body. In addition to Cancoule's recognition, Wentworth students Eliezer Laforest, Nashanti Moore-Ellis, and Adriano Di Marco were acknowledged for their participation in the organization's recent initiatives.

A Partnership for STEM Access

The ceremony celebrated the collaboration between Building Bridges and its core partner institutions, which include Wentworth Institute of Technology, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, Boston Public Schools, and the Museum of Science Boston.

Wentworth President Mark A. Thompson was among the distinguished guests in attendance to celebrate the collaboration.

"Building Bridges was founded to transform the culture of how Black and Brown youth view STEM - from resistance to excitement," said founder Gregory Janey. "Tonight's event represents not only a rebranding, but a recommitment to our purpose: empowering the next generation of innovators through exposure, mentorship, and opportunity."

Design and Innovation

The event followed the organization's inaugural summer program, which challenged students to create a logo design symbolizing unity and innovation. The competition featured over 40 participants from local schools and institutions.

Through these collaborations, the organization aims to create a "cyclical pipeline of learning and leadership" that connects elementary students, university students, and professionals to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.