Arlington, VA (January 9, 2020) - The Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), announced scholarship awards totaling $85,500 to 49 students, including seven military veterans, studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry.
"We are pleased to award scholarships to these qualified and dedicated students and veterans, and we look forward to welcoming them into the industry," said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. "Each year, the Foundation provides aid to these aspiring technicians, helping to promote careers in the industry and fill good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced."
"Supporting workforce development and employee retention programs are ACCA’s highest priorities and we’re pleased to work with the Rees Scholarship Foundation and AHRI to help contractors recruit and retain skilled workers," said ACCA President and CEO Barton James. "These scholarship awards also support ACCA’s work with President Trump and his pledge to America’s workers, which is focused on providing educational opportunities to develop a strong workforce. Congratulations to these very deserving young men and women, we look forward to you advancing in our industry and becoming tomorrow’s leaders.”
HVACR and Water Heating Technician Program Recipients:
Justin Adams, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, IL
Simon Adkins, Gadsden State Community College, Anniston, AL
Kristopher Aguero, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
Ethan Arnold, InterCoast College, Fairfield, CA
Alonso Avila, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
Gaspar Baltazar, Wallace Community College, Dothan, AL
Christopher Bearden, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
Chance Beasley, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK
Travis Bolton, Institute of Technology, Redding, CA
Gabriel Cristee, Vista college, Fort Smith, AR
Casey Dallas, Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO
Michelle Deckard, Front Range Community College, Loveland, CO
Lukas Ferguson, Gadsden State Community College, Anniston, AL
Matthew Ferren, Front Range Community College, Loveland, CO
Jared Frost, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
Israel Galicia, Lone Star College, Houston, TX
Davion Gilbert, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Clarkston, GA
Benjamin Grubb, Southern Maine Community College, South Portland, ME
Nar Guragai, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Clarkston, GA
Kailey Hardy, Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, AL
Matthew Jacobs, Johnston Community College, Smithfield, NC
Darryl Johnson, Wallace Community College, Dothan, AL
Henry Kuhfeldt, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI
Jacob Lett, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
Jose Luna, Perry Technical Institute, Yakima, WA
Moisses Macaraeg, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
Cory McLiechey, College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Christian Morano, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
George News, Georgia Northwestern Technical College, Rome, GA
Arnaud Niyonkuru, Southern Maine Community college, South Portland, ME
Jessica Otto, Lone Star College, Houston, TX
Jesse Owens, Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minneapolis, MN
Sorin Popa, Oakton Community College, Des Plaines, IL
James Reid, Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, AL
Phillip Relos, San Joaquin Valley College, Temecula, CA
Bruno Santos, Vista College, Fort Smith, AR
Anthony Thompson, Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman, OK
Michael Tibbitts, Great Oaks Career Campuses- Diamond Oaks, Cincinnati, OH
Johnathan Zajac, Moore Norman Technology Center, Norman, OK
Isaiah Zendejas, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
Zhijun Zhang, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
Isidro Zuniga, Jr, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
Veterans Program Recipients:
Donavon Clark, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
Paulo Hinton, College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV
Ryan Hoffman, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
Derek McElhiney, Texarkana College, Texarkana, TX
Corey Peltier, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
Daniel Pinto, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
Charles Redmond, San Joaquin Valley College, Temecula, CA
Since the Rees Scholarship Foundation was founded in 2003, it has awarded more than $930,000 in scholarships to more than 500 deserving students and instructors. For a list of past scholarship recipients, click here.
About the Rees Scholarship Foundation The Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation was established to assist with the recruitment and competency of future HVACR and water heating technicians by awarding scholarships to qualified students enrolled in an institutionally accredited school. Eligible students must be preparing for a career in either residential or light commercial air conditioning, heating, or water heating, or commercial refrigeration.
About AHRI The Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) is the trade association representing manufacturers of air conditioning, heating, commercial refrigeration, and water heating equipment. An internationally recognized advocate for the industry, AHRI develops standards for and certifies the performance of many of these products. AHRI's 300+ member companies manufacture quality, efficient, and innovative residential and commercial air conditioning, space heating, water heating, and commercial refrigeration equipment and components for sale in North America and around the world.