FALLS CHURCH, Va. — This year, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation scholarship program plans to award 56 scholarships totaling over $140,000. Awards are available to plumbing and HVACR apprentices working for PHCC—National Association members, trade school or community college students taking plumbing or HVAC classes, and college students pursuing majors directly related to the plumbing-heating-cooling industry.

The Foundation’s scholarship program has been rapidly growing and to better handle that increased demand, a new online application system has been built. The new system will make applying easier for apprentices and students and streamline the evaluation process. The adaptive application form will present only the necessary questions based on the answers provided by the applicant, meaning fewer questions to answer. The platform also will make it easier for applicants to collect letters of recommendation from their supervisors and PHCC business owners.

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 contractor 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 the most awards set at $3,000 each. The deadline for all submission materials is May 1 and the application can be found at https://phccfoundation.org/scholarships.

“The new platform will make it easier for individuals to access these awards and get their start in the plumbing-heating-cooling industry,” said John Zink, Foundation VP of development and communications. “Whether the apprentice pays for their own training or their employer does, we still want those apprentices to apply. Union apprentices are welcome to apply as well.”

Apprentice applicants must be working for a contractor member of the PHCC—National Association. The scholarships are funded by contractor donations to the PHCC Educational Foundation and by these corporate sponsors: A. O. Smith, Bradford White Corporation, Delta Faucet Company, InSinkErator, RIDGID, Scorpion Home Services Marketing, State Water Heaters, SupplyHouse.com, and Viega.