Meet Harbor School alumna Awa Sylla

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In mid-December, the Urban Assembly New York Harbor School held its annual Professional Advisory Committee meeting on Governors Island. Among 60+ industry partners, who attended on behalf of the school’s seven Career & Technical Education programs, was Harbor School grad Awa Sylla. Awa (pictured below) graduated from the Marine Systems Technology CTE program, and has since landed a job at Ironworkers Local 580.

“My CTE at the Harbor School introduced me to welding, and helped me decide what I wanted to pursue after high school,” says Awa. “I attended CO-OP Tech to make myself a better asset, so I would be able to knock down some of the obstacles to getting into Local 580.

Along with attending welding school, Awa attended Non Traditional Employment for Women, a pre-apprenticeship program to increase her chances of being hired.

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Awa is now an apprentice with Local 580, working in downtown Brooklyn as an ornamental ironworker. “I work in the tallest building in Brooklyn called Brooklyn Point” explains Awa. “Here I caulk the joints of the window panels we install, waterproof those panels, and weld here and there.”

Clarke Dennis, a former member of Billion Oyster Project’s staff, now working as an instructor at the Harbor School, recalls Awa’s time in high school. “Awa is an amazing person. I met her when I first started with BOP. She was tenacious in her pursuit of a career in welding. She set a high bar in terms of expectations of future students.”

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At the Billion Oyster Project, we love to see these success stories coming out of our flagship school, and students going out into the world with a hands-on understanding of their natural environment. We can’t wait to see more students explore non-traditional career options and follow in the footsteps of graduates like Awa. 

“As a student, my biggest learning from Clarke is that [the welding field] is not easy” says Awa. “Tardiness and making silly mistakes won’t cut it.” I really appreciate the patience and acknowledgements that both Brendan and Clarke gave me to help me be the best that I can be. They are incredible assets to the Harbor School and BOP.”