News
Clifford H. “Ted” Rees Jr. Scholarship Foundation Awards $176,000 in Educational Assistance to Aspiring HVACR Technicians
February 27, 2025
Contact: Adanna Le Gendre
Direct: 703-600-0363
Arlington, Va. – The Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), today announced scholarship awards totaling $176,000 to 90 students, including two military veterans and 10 SkillsUSA awardees, studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry.
“The Foundation is pleased to award scholarships to these qualified and dedicated students," said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. "The HVACR industry offers good-paying, stable jobs that cannot be outsourced. There isn’t a better time for these aspiring technicians to join us.”
HVACR and Water Heating Technician Program Recipients:
Adam Gonzalez, Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA
Alex Bernard, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Alex Rossi, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
Andrea Saavedra, South Plains College, Levelland, TX
Anthony Forrest, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Murfreesboro, TN
Antonio Carmona, John A Logan College, Carterville, IL
April Cadengo, Perry Technical Institute, Yakima, WA
Aristotle Bautista, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI
Arvey Levy, John Ragadi, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI
Bennet Palmer, Manchester Community College, Manchester, NH
Brendan Dziamalek, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Brian Lopez, HVAC Technical Institute, Chicago, IL
Brian Staley, John A Logan College, Carterville, IL
Caleb Wells, Great Oaks Career Campuses, Sharonville, OH
Charles-Remy Chapman, Manchester Community College, Manchester, NH
Christopher Vanegas, Lincoln Tech, Columbia, MD
Cole Wright, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL
Courtney Brackins, Northeast State Community College, Blountville, TN
Cristian Hernandez, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Daniel Clifton, Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport, PA
Daniel Urdahl, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI
Daniil Antonov, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI
Dariel Ferreira, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Dean Kort, Northwestern Technological Institute, Southfield, MI
Desmond Harris, HVAC Technical Institute, Chicago, IL
Devin Warren, Green Country Technology Center, Okmulgee, OK
Elber Ortiz Guzman, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis, MN
Gage Sizemore, John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL
Guillermo Garza, Austin Career Institute, Austin, TX
Iqbal Singh, Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA
Jacob Bono, Northwestern Technological Institute, Southfield, MI
Jacob Hernandez, Riverside City College, Riverside, CA
Jake Mellen, Central Maine Community College, Auburn, ME
Jean Daniel Mars, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Jesse Arciga, Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA
Jonathan Duck, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
Jonathan Miller, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Murfreesboro, TN
Jonathan Martin, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Murfreesboro, TN
Jordan Elie, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Jordan Peppers, Kiamichi Technology Center, Durant, OK
Jose Aldaz, Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO
Jose Feliciano Vargas Oliver, Montgomery Community College, Troy, NC
Joseph Sancetta, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Joshua Roberts, Minneapolis Community and Technical College, Minneapolis, MN
Josiah Jeppesen, Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO
Justin Wright, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL
Kamyl Anthony, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI
Kerry Howard, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL
Madelynn Adams, Jefferson College, Hillsboro, MO
Mark Franklin, Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO
Mason Espejo, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI
Mason Scovronski, University of Northwestern Ohio, Lima, OH
Mathew Martinez, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Matt Gravelyn, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, MI
Matthew Breen, Rowan Cabarrus Community College, Concord, NC **
Matthew Catania, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY
Michael Barnes, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN
Michael Rhodes, Southeast Community College, Milford, NE
Michael Ringels, Kiamichi Technology Center, Durant, OK
Muosadak Abbas, Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA
Nieves Gonzalez, Texas State Technical College, Waco, TX
Ricardo Lizardi De Jesus, Great Oaks Career Campuses, Cincinnati, OH
Risa Gilmore, Austin Community College, Austin, TX
Robert Kerr, OCM BOCES, Syracuse, NY
Ryan Welte, Blackhawk Technical College, Milton, WI **
Samantha Trejo, Texas State Technical College, Harlingen, TX
Sebastian Avram, Berks Career & Technology Center, Oley, PA
Seth Reiffer, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI **
Soncie Turner, John A. Logan College, Carterville, IL
Timothy Sherer, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL
Tony Crayton, Institute of Technology, Modesto, CA
Tyler Bentley, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
Tyler Birabent, Northwestern Technological Institute, Southfield, MI
William Key, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, AL
William Pittler, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI
William Staples, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI
Xavier Garcia, Eastwick College Nutley, Nutley, NJ
Zack Larson, Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis, MN
Veterans Program Recipients:
Steven Cacace, Southern Technical College, Sanford, FL
Taylor Short, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN
2024 SkillsUSA Awardees:
Cadin Blais
John Chaney
Dylan Demers
Jantzen Fisher
Elijah Glenn
Cole Kelley
Braden Kott
Scott Mull
Luke Reynolds
Jackson Schaffer
** Received Spring and Fall Scholarships
Since its founding in 2003, the Rees Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $1.1 million in scholarships to more than 700 deserving students enrolled in HVACR programs at accredited institutions. Scholarship recipients also received a free Ready-to-Work test through our partnership with North American Technician Excellence (NATE).
For a list of all past scholarship winners, click here. For all previous news releases about the Rees Scholarship Foundation, click here.
Rees Scholarship Program for HVACR Technicians Expands to Partner with SkillsUSA
March 5, 2020
Contact: Adanna LeGendre, AHRI
Direct: 703.600.0363
Arlington, Va. —The Board of Directors of the Clifford H. “Ted” Rees, Jr., Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), today announced a partnership with SkillsUSA, expanding the long-standing scholarship program designed for students pursuing a career in the HVACR and water heating industry. With more than 365,000 members nationwide, SkillsUSA is a partnership of students, teachers, and industry working together to ensure a skilled American workforce.
“The Rees Scholarship Program exists to ensure that qualified, knowledgeable technicians are available to support the industry,” said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. “Our partners at SkillsUSA share the same interest in supporting a skilled technical workforce, and we are honored that we can now offer even more scholarships to deserving students, thanks to this new partnership.”
“SkillsUSA is thrilled to partner with AHRI and the Rees Scholarship Foundation to support building a pipeline of students who are continuing their education toward meaningful and lucrative careers in the HVACR industry,” said SkillsUSA Executive Director Chelle Travis. “This scholarship will benefit students, their schools, and future employers, and reinforces the value of SkillsUSA membership in creating new opportunities for students.”
The Clifford H. “Ted” Rees, Jr., Scholarship Foundation SkillsUSA Scholarship will include eight one-time, merit-based $2,500 scholarships to SkillsUSA students pursuing postsecondary career training in the HVACR industry, beginning this spring. Details on donating to the Rees Scholarship are available at www.ReesScholarship.org. The Foundation provides special recognition to donors at a variety of giving levels.