This year, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors–National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation scholarship program plans to award 55 scholarships totaling $132,000.

Awards are available to plumbing and HVACR apprentices working for PHCC members, trade school or community college students taking plumbing or HVAC classes, and college students pursuing majors directly related to plumbing or HVACR.

The foundation has announced the addition of two new awards for 2024:

• The Gil Meyerowitz Memorial Scholarship: The Meyerowitz family runs several supply houses in New York, plus the SupplyHouse.com site. Gil Meyerowitz was the owner of Meyerowitz Supply in Queens. When he passed away in April 2023, a portion of his estate was allocated to funding scholarships for veterans through the foundation.

Beginning this year, a $3,000 scholarship will be awarded to a qualified applicant who is also a U.S. armed forces veteran, a current or former reservist, or a member of the National Guard.

• The Ferguson Cares HOLA Scholarships: The national supplier Ferguson provides associates with ways to support their interests through its internal Business Resource Groups (BRGs). Ferguson Hispanic and Latin American (HOLA) BRG members support organizations that focus on the educational development of individuals within the Hispanic and Latino communities.

This year, the Ferguson Cares Foundation is providing funding to support four new $1,500 scholarships, which will be available to qualified Hispanic and Latino applicants.

All applicants are required to answer a few questions about their interest in the trades and career plans, plus provide a letter of recommendation. Apprentices can get that recommendation from their PHCC member employer, while trade school or college students can have an instructor or guidance counselor write their recommendation. Awards range from $1,500 to $10,000, with most awards at around $3,000 each.

The deadline for all applications is Wednesday, May 1,^, and the application can be found here.

“Our scholarships are designed to help open opportunities for those interested in a plumbing and HVAC trades career,” said John Zink, vice president of development and communications at the foundation. “For many otherwise qualified individuals or their potential employers, the cost of apprenticeship tuition or a trades-related college degree is a roadblock. This year our scholarships, including the new awards we are rolling out, will help over 50 future tradespeople overcome that funding problem and have their chance at starting a great career.”

The scholarships are funded by contractor donations to the PHCC Educational Foundation and by these corporate sponsors: A. O. Smith Corp., Bradford White Corp., Delta Faucet Co., the Ferguson Cares Foundation, InSinkErator, Ridgid, Scorpion Home Services Marketing, State Water Heaters, Sterling (a Kohler Brand), and SupplyHouse.com.