The Clifford H. “Ted” Rees Jr., Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute, announced that it has awarded $60,500 in scholarship funds to 35 students, including five veterans, studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry.

“We are proud to help these qualified and dedicated students, and promote careers in the HVACR and water heating industry, to help close the employment and skills gaps we currently face,” said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. “We wish them success in their programs and look forward to welcoming them into the industry.”

The HVACR and Water Heating Technician Program recipients are:
• Eddie Alejo, San Joaquin Valley College (Ontario, Calif.)
• Robert Brown, MIAT School of Technology (Township, Mo.)
• Anthony Crosby, Eastern Oklahoma County Tech Center (Choctaw, Okla.)
• Rachel Duncan, Greenville Technical College (Greenville, S.C.)
• Brady Dutton, Bevill State Community College (Sumiton, Ala.)
• Carlos Farias, College of Lake County (Grayslake, Ill.)
• Antonio Fluker, Midwest Technical Institute (Brownsburg, Ind.)
• Karima Gibson, Community College of Baltimore County (Catonsville, Md.)
• Edward Gilmore, Fortis Institute (Lawrenceville, N.J.)
• Evan Gleaves, Perry Technical Institute (Yakima, Wash.)
• Nicholas Guetterman, John A. Logan College (Carterville, Ill.)
• Marley Hebard, Tulsa Technology Center (Tulsa, Okla.)
• Jacob Jett, Bevill State Community College (Sumiton, Ala.)
• Cody Jodon, Lake Tech (Eustis, Fla.)
• Sharon Karganilla, Intercoast College (Roseville, Calif.)
• Hector Lopez, South Texas College (McAllen, Texas)
• Nathan McKim, Front Range (Fort Collins, Colo.)
• Patric Miller, Shelton State (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
• David Alexander Millwood, Sheridan Technical College (Hollywood, Fla.)
• Dennis Moore, Brownson Technical School (Anaheim, Calif.)
• Phillip Moore, Midwest Technical Institute (Brownsburg, Ind.)
• Fausto F. Najera, San Joaquin Valley College (Ontario, Calif.)
• David Plunkett, Gadsden State Community College (Anniston, Ala.)
• Jeremy Radeff, Polaris Career Center (Middleburg Heights, Ohio)
• Darren Paul Roberts, Bevill State Community College (Sumiton, Ala.)
• Sean Scoular, Front Range Community College (Fort Collins, Colo.)
• Blake Selvestra, Minneapolis Community and Technical College (Minneapolis)
• Jimmie Sides, Gadsden State Community College (Anniston, Ala.)
• Taylor Taft Trotter, Bevill State Community College (Sumiton, Ala.)
• Anna Woodell, Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology Okmulgee (Okmulgee, Okla.)

Veterans Program recipients are:
• Nathanael King, Bellingham Technical College (Bellingham, Wash.)
• Robert Marchant, Vista College (Amarillo, Texas)
• Jean-Baptiste Mekpato, Southeast Community College (Milford, Neb.)
• Mercury Van Milton, Centura Institute (Orlando, Fla.)
• John Shawano, Black Hawk Technical College (Janesville, Wis.)

The 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.  

Since the Rees Scholarship Foundation was founded in 2003, it has awarded almost $440,000 in scholarships to more than 250 deserving students and instructors. For a list of past scholarship recipients, click here.