Industry Group Awards $2,000 Scholarship to Penn College Student
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
A Pennsylvania College of Technology student is among only 10 national recipients of a Clifford H. "Ted" Rees Jr. Scholarship from the Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute.
Shawn A. Wasielewski, of Easton, majoring in building automation technology-HVAC, will receive $2,000 for the Spring 2007 semester. This marks the second consecutive year that a Penn College student was selected for the honor, which encourages pursuit of higher education and careers as heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration technicians.
The scholarship honors the legacy of Rees, a former ARI president, and his efforts to encourage HVACR manufacturers to support and strengthen vocational and technical school education nationwide.
"By recognizing these deserving students enrolled in HVACR technical career programs, ARI is helping the industry close a serious and growing skills gap in our country," said institute President Stephen R. Yurek. "These students have demonstrated drive, commitment and leadership to realize their educational goals, and we are pleased to help support them in achieving their career potential."
Selection criteria used by the review committee included academic performance, letters of recommendation, work history and a short essay. The scholarship awards go to qualified students who are enrolled, or plan to enroll, in an HVACR program at an accredited institution.
Penn College's HVAC bachelor's and associate degrees are accredited by the Partnership for Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Accreditation and endorsed by the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, which has a student chapter on campus.
The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute is the trade association representing manufacturers of air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment. An internationally recognized leader in developing standards for and certifying the performance of these products, ARI also is a major advocate for the industry, both domestically and abroad.
For more information about academic offerings in the School of Construction and Design Technologies, call (570) 327-4518, send e-mail or visit online .