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Bryan’s Blueprint for a Better Tomorrow

Meet Bryan G.J., Salutatorian of his graduating class at Validus Preparatory Academy in the Bronx and a young man with a vision for building a better world.

This fall, Bryan will be attending Fordham University as an Engineering Physics major through Fordham’s prestigious 3-2 Cooperative Program in Engineering with Columbia University. The path ahead is as ambitious as it is intentional, three years at Fordham earning his BA in Engineering Physics, followed by Columbia University where he will pursue his BS in Civil Engineering. His ultimate goal? To become both an architect and a civil engineer.

Young person with glasses and a cross necklace stands on a lawn in front of a Fordham sign and campus landscaping, near the Jeffrey Gural Student Commons.

Bryan’s passion for civil engineering was born close to home, right here in the Bronx, where he saw firsthand how pollution can affect a community, and he has made it his mission to be part of the solution through hands-on projects.

In 10th grade, Bryan participated in a civil engineering project called “A Better Tomorrow,” where he built models of pollution solutions and presented his work to Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson. His project centered on designing a machine capable of extracting pollution and converting it into renewable energy. Bryan has continued to develop his skills independently, using design software like Blender to create models of buildings and parks for pollution-affected areas of the Bronx.

As Bryan prepares to step onto Fordham’s campus, he is most excited about connecting with people who share his passion and perspective, building on new ideas, challenging his own thinking, and developing the solutions that will one day shape the communities he cares so deeply about.

Bryan is not just heading to college. He is heading there with a blueprint, and we cannot wait to see what he builds.