Scholarship established at Kellogg Community College for HVACR students
The scholarship comes from the SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company and is intended to help increase and diversify the pool of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration specialists in the state.
SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company has established a new scholarship at Kellogg Community College for students who are pursuing their studies in the HVACR industry. The scholarship fund, which is called the Workforce Empowerment Scholarship, currently totals $235,000.
According to an article on Kellogg Community College’s website, Patrick Leahy, who is the manager of SEMCO’s Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) program, was quoted as saying of the new scholarship, “SEMCO is committed to fostering a culture of learning and skill development in the trades and believes in the power of apprenticeships and hands-on training programs. Through this scholarship, we aim to drive progress and innovation in EWR and related careers and believe that the future of the HVAC industry lies in the ability to effectively balance performance and cost. By investing in the education and training of individuals committed to these principles, we hope to contribute to the growth of a skilled and diverse workforce capable of leading the way in energy efficiency and natural gas conservation.”
The goal of the scholarship is to broaden the pool of HVACR professionals who are committed to sustainably using natural gas, in addition to being proficient in HVACR practices.
Andrew Redlon is an HVACR instructor at Kellogg Community College. He said of the scholarship, “HVACR is a major part of the economy and, like other disciplines, there is a shortage of trained technicians entering the field for these high-paying careers. This gift will open many educational pathways for new and existing HVACR students.”
The scholarship will become available for the 2024-2025 academic year and will be awarded to several students. Students are accepted into HVACR programs on a rolling basis and complete their courses at their own pace within the school’s training labs. The school offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Industrial Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration as well as a certificate in Industrial Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration.
For more information about Kellogg Community College, visit the school’s website.