2026 Mentor of the Year – Harley Lederer

We are excited to announce Harley Lederer as the 2026 ACE GNY Mentor of the Year!

Harley is an Electrical Engineer at PANYNJ, Mentor on Teams 42 and 48. Harley has an incredible ability to make students feel welcome, capable, and excited to learn. Always willing to step in where he is needed most, he has gone above and beyond to support multiple teams while maintaining an  engaging, positive presence for every student he mentors.
His dedication leaves a lasting impact on every student he mentors and sets an inspiring example for the entire ACE GNY family!

We also congratulate the Finalists for the 2026 Mentor of the Year award and highlight them below:

• Annette Duran: Director of Design and Construction, DASNY, and Mentor on Team 58
• Anthony Farina: Project Director, Bridges & Tunnels, MTA, and Mentor on Team 4
• Caitlin Stewart: Managing Architect, A&E In-House Studio, NYC SCA, and Mentor on Team 8
• Rachel Empensando: Associate, Design Manager, Gensler, and Team Leader for Teams 6 & 40

Congratulations to all mentors nominated, to our Finalists, and to Harley!