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), awarded $32,900 in scholarship funds to 18 students and veterans studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industries, as well as one instructor.

“The Rees Foundation is pleased to help these accomplished and deserving recipients begin their journeys in the industry,” said Stephen Yurek, president and CEO, AHRI. “We wish them success in their educational pursuits and careers.”

The HVACR and Water Heating Technician Program Recipients are James McIntyre, Institute of Technology, Redding, California; Ernest Faisst, Institute of Technology, Citrus Heights, California; James Kitchens, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama; Oliver Kessels, Institute of Technology, Sumiton, Alabama; Julio Perez, Institute of Technology, Clovis, California; Phillip Anthony, Delaware Technical & Community College, Georgetown, Delaware; Isaac Median, Institute of Technology, Fresno, California; Austin Small, Lincoln Technical Institute, Columbia, Maryland; Samuel Johnson, Community College of Baltimore County, Cantonsville, Maryland; Chase Freeman, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama; Andrew Sexton, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama; Evelyn Zavala, Montgomery College, Rockville, Maryland; Casey Lueck, Institute of Technology, Redding, California; Russell Scudder, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Clarkston, Georgia; and James Hunt, Grayson College, Denison, Texas.

Veterans Program Recipients included Melvin Price, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama; Gerald Montague, Georgia Piedmont Technical College, Clarkston, Georgia; and Drake Mays, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama.

Paul Sichau, Wor-Wic Community College, Salisbury, Maryland, received the Instructor Program honor.

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. The foundation awarded $65,400 to 39 applicants in 2014. Since it was founded in 2003, the Rees Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $275,000 in scholarships to 160 students and instructors.

Publication date: 2/9/2015 

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