SOUTH BRONX HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS GETTING TRIP OF A LIFETIME THANKS TO NEW YORK BUILDING FOUNDATION AND SKANSKA

NEW YORK, April 19, 2010 – Five students from the Alfred E. Smith Career and Technical Education High School in the South Bronx spent Spring Break in Stockholm, Sweden, thanks to the generous support of the New York Building Foundation, a nonprofit building coalition, and Skanska, an international construction firm with headquarters in Stockholm and major operations in New York City.

The five 10th Grade students from minority backgrounds are studying for careers in building construction and engineering.  The students, three boys and two girls, were selected randomly from a pool of 30 interested students who have excelled academically and maintained strong attendance records.

The five-day trip, which began on March 30th, was made possible thanks to financial contributions from the Building Foundation and Skanska, as well as logistical support from both organizations.

Highlights of the trip included a VIP tour of Skanska’s headquarters, visits to Swedish vocational schools, as well as cultural exchanges with their Swedish peers, including a traditional Viking meal, basketball games and cultural activities.  The trip also included boat tours of Swedish islands, museum visits and sightseeing walks.

One student, Jonathan Mayers, said, "This was a great opportunity not only to travel but to meet and talk with kids my age from a different culture." Another student, Olivia Hoyte, commented, “Skanska inspired me to become an engineer.”  Other students complimented Stockholm’s architecture and its cuisine, while another student most enjoyed making new friends in Sweden.

The New York Building Foundation was formed in 1998 to promote the long-term growth and well-being of the industry through a program of research, educational and philanthropic activities.  As part of its mission, the Building Foundation is supporting the development of the next generation of industry leaders through funding for fellowships, internships and scholarships that support students in academic programs related to design, construction and real estate.

Over the past few years, the Building Foundation has awarded college scholarships to Alfred E. Smith students.  Building Foundation President Richard T. Anderson also served as Principal for a Day at the school and delivered the Commencement Address in 2007. 

In recognition of this ongoing involvement, Maia Blumgarth, a science teacher at the high school, reached out to Mr. Anderson with her idea to coordinate a trip to Stockholm for the students.  He readily pledged the organization’s support and reached out to executives of Skanska USA, who in turn pledged financial backing for the trip and offered to provide the students with a guided tour of its headquarters facilities in Stockholm.

Ms. Baumgarth said, “Alfred E. Smith High School is very fortunate to have found such a great, and caring friend in Richard Anderson. Not only did he help us fund the trip but went out of his way to introduce us to Skanska, which also has been incredibly generous with its time and support.  Thanks to their assistance, five deserving students were rewarded for their hard work and given a rare opportunity to broaden their horizons.”

According to Ms. Baumgarth, who chaperoned the students along with another teacher, the trip was the first outside New York City for some of the students.  In addition to the visit to Skanska, Ms. Baumgarth arranged additional educational visits to Stockholm vocational schools and designers.  Even before the trip began, students already used it as a learning experience by studying the region and helping to plan their itinerary.

“We are proud of our ongoing relationship with the Alfred E. Smith School and happy to support the faculty and administration as it seeks to educate and excite New York’s next generation of builders,” said Mr. Anderson.  “The generous support of Skanska demonstrates the building industry’s deep commitment to the future of this City and its young men and women.”

Added Skanska USA Chief Executive Officer Michael McNally, “Our support for these students is in keeping with Skanska’s commitment to make a positive impact on society and provide young men and women with opportunities to help build their communities.  We want to demonstrate to the next generation of builders that the work we do is demanding, but also fun – and that the rewards from what they help create will last a lifetime.”