The Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, announced scholarship awards totaling $74,000 to 40 students, including one military veteran program recipient, 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 hope to eventually welcome them into the industry," said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. "Each year, the Foundation provides aid to an increasing number of recipients, helping to promote careers in the industry and fill good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced."

"Developing quality workers is a critical initiative that everyone in our industry is working together to accomplish," said ACCA President and CEO Paul T. Stalknecht. "We are proud to partner with the Rees Scholarship Foundation and AHRI to give these hard-working students and veterans scholarships to help them continue their education, which will develop into a strong workforce for our industry's future."

HVACR and Water Heating Technician Program Recipients

• Adam Randolph, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
• Adrain Behn,Green Country Technology Center, Okmulgee, OK
• Angel Gonzalez, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
• Austin Romine, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
• Binh Le, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Clarkston, GA
• Bradley Wheat, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
• Christian Castillo, Tyler Junior College West Campus, Tyler, TX
• Christopher Lewis, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI
• Cory Edney, Intercoast College, Fairfield,CA
• Cory Mullins, Santa Barbara Business College, Ventura, CA
• Dwoodson Fuller, Green Country Technology Center, Okmulgee, OK
• Emily Johnson, Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie, MN
• Erasmo Soto, Intercoast College Rancho, Cordova, CA
• George Heiman, Leonardi HVAC Training Center, Denver, CO
• Howard Raleigh, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
• Hunter Johnson, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
• James Parra, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
• Jeffrey Headrick , Tyler Junior College, Tyler, TX
• Jessy Garcia Olivia, Tulsa Tech Center, Tulsa, OK
• Joce Mizimakoski, InterCoast College, Sacramento, CA
• Juan Godinez, Perry Technical Institute, Yakima, WA
• Luis Cervantes, Lone Star College, Houston, TX
• Michael Derby, Penn College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
• Myra Sullivan, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL
• Nadege de Lajudie, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
• Nathan Lavallee, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
• Obed Cordova, Front Range Community College, Loveland, CO
• Philip Fernandez, South Central Louisiana Technical College, Reserve, LA
• Platoni Quach, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, CA
• Rex Allbritton Jr., Green Country Technical Institute, Okmulgee, OK
• Ruben Carreon, Tyler Junior College, Tyler, TX
• Ryan Callahan, Southeast Community College, Milford, NE
• Ryli Jetton, Missouri State Technical College, Linn, MO
• Scott Husak, MIAT College of Technology, Canton, MI
• Semih Sonmez, Electrical Training Center Inc., Copiague, NY
• Timothy Singer, Delta College, University Center, MI
• Trent Steffens, Missouri State Technical College, Linn, MO
• Will Madison, Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, AL
• Zachary Hutto, Green Country Technology Center, Okmulgee, OK

Veterans Program Recipients

• Glenn Coady, Des Moines Area Community College, Ankeny, IA

Since the Rees Scholarship Foundation was founded in 2003, it has awarded more than $700,000 in scholarships to more than 400 deserving students and instructors. For a list of past scholarship recipients, click here.

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.