This summer, we’ve had the pleasure of working with high school student, Ava Dominick, through the Crossroads Foundation – an organization dedicated to supporting students throughout their high school years, especially those pursuing a Catholic education. Each year, the organization selects students from across the region and pairs them with one of several partner schools, including Seton LaSalle Catholic High School, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (OLSH), Central Catholic, Oakland Catholic, Serra Catholic, and Bishop Canevin.
Programs, like LEAD, were designed by the organization to develop leadership and mentoring skills, which allow juniors and seniors, like Ava, to serve as mentors to younger students while helping to build a strong sense of community and support.
Project Architect, Kristy Costanzo, RA, served as Ava’s mentor for the duration of the summer. Kristy shared,
“It’s been such a pleasure having Ava with us this summer and watching her explore what it means to become an architect. She jumped right in, meeting with different members of our team to hear about their journeys through architecture school, the licensure process, and the many paths this career can take. Ava also spent time learning Revit and used those new skills to create a design project of her own, bringing a lot of creativity and thoughtful ideas to the table.
Throughout the summer, she was exposed to a range of projects we’re working on, both in design and under construction, and got a closer look at the different phases that bring a project to life. We hope this experience gave Ava a better sense of the profession and helped build a strong foundation as she continues to pursue her interest in architecture.”
The organization provides a wide range of academic and personal development opportunities, including summer workshops and enrichment camps for rising freshmen, sophomores, and juniors. Students are also encouraged to take part in SPICE camps, internships, and dual-enrollment courses during the summers before junior and senior year. During the school year, Crossroads continues its support with dedicated tutors and counselors at each partner school, along with organized college tours and financial aid guidance. Their goal is to ensure every scholar not only has access to higher education, but also the tools to thrive throughout high school and beyond.
To help us get to know our summer student better, we invited Ava to share a brief introduction.
“My name is Ava and I attend Seton LaSalle Catholic High School. I play offense on the Girls Varsity Flag Football team and have always had a passion for creativity. While my original career interests were in technology – and for a time, animation, since I love to draw – I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue.
During my freshman year, Crossroads encouraged us to choose a SPICE camp based on our interests. I knew I was drawn to anything artistic or creative, so my counselor sent me a list of options. One in particular stood out: an architecture-focused camp through the Fallingwater Institute that involved hand drawing. It was held online for a week, and I enjoyed every minute of it. That experience sparked my interest in architecture and helped me realize that this was the path I wanted to follow.
My goal is to attend Carnegie Mellon University’s five-year architecture program. I also dream of traveling abroad to experience new cultures and gain inspiration from the world around me.“
Best wishes to Ava in planning and pursuing future educational goals!
