Global Cool Air Conditioning Scholarships: Opportunities for Aspiring HVAC Professionals

The Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) industry is experiencing substantial growth, creating a demand for skilled professionals. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (2024) predicted that HVAC job openings are expected to increase 9 percent nationally between 2023 and 2033-a figure that is faster than the average projected growth for all occupations (4 percent). Fortunately, students seeking financial assistance can partake in various scholarship opportunities designed to get more people working in the industry. These scholarships, offered by various organizations and foundations, aim to support students pursuing education and training in HVAC and related fields.

Carrier and Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation Scholarship

Carrier and Bryant, world leaders in high-technology heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration systems, demonstrate their commitment to the HVAC industry through the Distributors’ Education Foundation scholarship. The Carrier and Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation was established in 1981 to commemorate the late William A. Blees for his many years of service as an advisor to Carrier and Bryant distributors. This scholarship supports students pursuing undergraduate or vocational degrees.

Overview

The Distributors’ Education Foundation scholarship is awarded to children and grandchildren of Carrier and Bryant contractors who demonstrate academic excellence, community service, and participate in extracurricular activities. Since its inception, the Foundation has provided over $500,000 in assistance to more than 400 students.

Application Details

Applications for the Carrier and Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation scholarship typically open in early December and close in late March. For example, the application window for the 2025-2026 cycle ran from December 4, 2024, to March 27, 2025.

Quotes

"The Distributors’ Education Foundation scholarship is a unique way for our distributors to give back to their contractors’ families,” said Nick Arch, Vice President and General Manager, Residential HVAC Solutions, Carrier.“For over 40 years, Carrier and Bryant distributors have significantly contributed to the growth of the HVAC industry by funding the Carrier and Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation,” said Spencer Atkins, President and Chief Executive Officer, Weathertech Distributing and President, Scholarship Program Board of Directors. “Since inception, the Foundation has provided over $500,000 in scholarships and we plan to continue our support.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

Besides the Carrier and Bryant Distributors’ Education Foundation scholarship, numerous other scholarships are available to students pursuing HVAC-related education.

mikeroweWORKS Foundation Work Ethic Scholarship Program

The mikeroweWORKS Foundation is launching its next Work Ethic Scholarship Program and giving away another $1,000,000 in scholarships for the tenth year in a row. To be eligible for this award, applicants must be high school seniors or graduates or have a GED equivalent. They must be enrolled or plan to enroll in an approved trade program at an accredited two-year college, vocational, technical school, or other approved technical institutes in the United States.

EGIA Foundation Scholarship Program

The EGIA Foundation Scholarship Program provides $2,500 annually to 30 students nationwide who are interested in or currently pursuing a degree or technical certificate in HVAC, especially at the residential level. Students attending or planning to attend a vocational school, approved technical institute, or accredited community college are eligible to apply. A minimum GPA of 2.0 is required, and applicants between 18 and 26 are also given preference.

PHCC Educational Foundation Scholarships

The PHCC (Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors) Educational Foundation makes funding available to students pursuing training in these three core fields (plumbing, heating, and cooling). In 2024, the organization funded up to 55 scholarships worth up to $129,000. The PHC National Auxiliary has additional funds available.

ASHRAE Scholarships

The American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) provides up to $10,000 annually in scholarships to qualified students. Over 30 years, it has funded over $2.25 million to over 400 students. Available scholarships include those from regional chapters of ASHRAE, school-specific scholarships, and scholarships for high school seniors interested in this field. To be eligible, students must be enrolled full-time in an ASHRAE-recognized engineering or engineering technology program and meet other requirements, including a 3.0 GPA and three letters of recommendation.Willis Carrier attended Cornell University on a full, four-year merit scholarship."Thank you so much for selecting me for the ASHRAE Society’s Undergraduate Willis H. Carrier Scholarship. Receiving this award has made the dream of obtaining a master's degree into a reality. I am deeply touched by the generosity, comradery, and altruism exhibited within the ASHRAE organization. COLTON CUNNINGHAM, CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO- MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - WILLIS H.“Thank you to ASHRAE and Southland Industries for awarding me this scholarship. As an out-of-state student, this support significantly reduces my financial burden, allowing me to keep my cost of living down and focus on other important aspects of my academic and professional development. This scholarship enables me to dedicate more time and energy to my leadership role as the president of the University of Nebraska at Omaha ASHRAE Student Chapter, where I work to inspire and support fellow students in the field. GEOFFREY SANDERSON, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA OMAHA - ARCHITECTURAL ENGINEERING - C. J.“Thank you ASHRAE for your generous support in my education."It is a huge honor to receive the ASHRAE Presidents Scholarship. This scholarship will help me tremendously for the last two years I have to earn my bachelor's degree. I will be able to worry less about college debt and focus more about learning about the HVAC+R industry.“The ASHRAE Society Scholarship has not only made my college education possible, but it has also allowed me to become involved in the world around me. Without the scholarship, I would have needed to work 20+ hours a week to support my education expenses. Instead, I spend that time in clubs, student leadership, and personal electronics projects. These experiences have allowed me to grow my passion for electricity and physics and their application in the HVAC&R industry.“Receiving the ASHRAE Reuben Trane Scholarship is a source of joy for me because it is a great financial aid for me to complete my degree in Mechanical Engineering and it is a honor to receive a scholarship from a well-known and active engineering organization while being an engineering student.“Thank you for choosing me to be a recipient of one of your scholarships. It means the world to me to be recognized by a community I will be joining upon my graduation in December. I have not been the recipient of many scholarships before, especially one worth this much, so to be chosen is a true honor.“I cannot thank ASHRAE enough for the opportunities it has allowed me to pursue. By lifting the financial burden of my education, I am able to fully dive into my degree and explore the untapped potential in the industry."I am truly honored and grateful to have been selected as a recipient of the ASHRAE Society Scholarship. This scholarship will greatly support my academic journey, allowing me to focus on my studies and pursue my goals with greater confidence.“I am truly thankful to be chosen for the ASHRAE's Undergraduate Willis H. Carrier scholarship. This generous support has helped me financially, allowing me to focus more on my studies. Receiving this scholarship motivates me to continue striving toward my academic and career goals in the HVAC&R industry. It brings me closer to making a meaningful impact in this field. COLLINS TAMBI, MINNESOTA STATE UNIVERSITY - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - WILLIS H."As a woman in ASHRAE, I feel empowered to make a meaningful impact in the HVAC field and to inspire future generations of young engineers. The Lynn G. Bellenger scholarship means so much to me and has inspired me to start our first ASHRAE student branch at my university to encourage other students to join ASHRAE. REEM AL-TASSI, UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, DEARBORN - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING - LYNN G.“I am very honored to receive this scholarship. I plan on using this generous scholarship to help pay for my tuition for a degree in mechanical engineering. It will allow me to focus on my degree and learn as many skills as on an engineering team.

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Rees Scholarship Foundation

The Rees Scholarship Foundation funds one or two semesters of tuition for students enrolled in an HVAC-R and water heating technician program. For eligibility, students must submit two letters of recommendation, a 500-word essay, and educational transcripts. This program began in 2003 and has funded more than $1,100,000 to over 700 deserving students.

Trade Academy Scholarship Program

Trade Academy administers this scholarship program in partnership with Housecall Pro, a field service management app for service professionals to automate and grow their businesses. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must plan to pursue or currently pursue a certificate, diploma, or technical degree in HVAC at an accredited two-year college, vocational school, technical school, or other trade-related institution.

Minnesota Masonic Charities Scholarships Program

One of the state’s largest and most comprehensive programs, the Minnesota Masonic Charities Scholarships Program offers a variety of scholarships. It has provided over $13 million in scholarship funds since its inception. The MMC awards 40 such scholarships each year.

Bruce A. Emig Memorial Scholarship

The Bruce A. Emig Memorial Scholarship is available to students attending Penn State’s Pennsylvania College of Technology (PCT) in Williamsport. This scholarship is geared toward nontraditional students, who began their studies at the school at least four years after graduating from high school.

JCI HVAC Scholarship at Henry Ford College

Henry Ford College’s HFC Foundation raises awareness and charitable support for the college by building long-term relationships with business, civic, and community leaders. Through donations, the foundation provides scholarship opportunities to support students from diverse backgrounds and interests who seek education in a wide variety of programs on campus. One such scholarship is the JCI HVAC scholarship for students enrolled in the HVAC program at Henry Ford College. In addition to being enrolled in the HVAC program, they must be full-time or part-time students who have completed their first semester at Henry Ford College and must have a college GPA of 2.7 or better while enrolled at HFC.

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James O. Dale Vocational Scholarship

The Sonora Area Foundation administers several scholarship funds awarded to graduating high school seniors and students attending Columbia College. Some scholarships were started by families or individuals, while businesses or organizations started others. One such scholarship is the James O. Dale Vocational Scholarship. Students from any Tuolumne County high school pursuing education in plumbing, pipefitting, mechanics, HVAC, or fire sciences are eligible for this scholarship.

Charlie C. Turman Scholarship

Most of the scholarships managed by the Community Foundation for the Central Savannah River Area (CSRA) are available for students who will graduate from high school in the spring of the current year and plan to continue their education in the fall. One such scholarship is the Charlie C. The purpose of this scholarship program is to assist eligible students in McDuffie and Warren counties, to continue their pursuit of a secondary education in HVAC, mechanical, or agriculture or agribusiness at a trade school or technical school and to honor Mr. Charlie C. Turman.

Horch Roofing Scholarship

Founded in 2003, Horch Roofing provides roofing services in towns along Maine’s coastline. Considering that there are several untaken trade jobs, Horch Roofing aims to encourage young students to pursue an education and career in the trades. The scholarship welcomes students who have a passion for the trades and have the desire to pursue a career in the field.

Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship Fund

Established in 2010 by Paula and Gerald Piech in honor of their son, Andrew, the Andrew Piech Memorial Scholarship Fund has assisted many students in the field of automotive technology and related applied technologies. This foundation awards one or more scholarships yearly to graduating high school seniors or continuing college students of New Mexico. Applicants must be either past or current New Mexico residents to be eligible for this scholarship.

Larry and Mary Davis Memorial Scholarship Fund

The Davis Memorial Foundation is proud to establish this scholarship fund in memory of Larry and Mary Davis. Every year, the organization awards scholarships to individuals who want to further their education. Priority is given to students who wish to get a degree related to construction or those who wish to go to trade school. Awards are based on both personal and academic achievements. To be eligible for this scholarship, applicants must be accepted into a graduate or undergraduate degree program at an accredited university, college, or vocational school.

Laramie County Community College (LCCC) Scholarship

Students interested in HVAC-R or wind energy technology at Laramie County Community College (LCCC) in Laramie, Wyoming are invited to apply for this scholarship.

Duddlesten Scholarships at Blinn College District

With support from the Wayne Duddlesten Foundation, students enrolled in Blinn College District associate of applied science and career and applied technology, workforce, and economic development programs (which includes their HVAC program) can receive Duddlesten Scholarships to support their educational journey. To be eligible, applicants must enroll in an associate of applied science or workforce training program at Blinn.

Association of Women Contractors Scholarships

The Association of Women Contractors offers scholarships to female students to assist them in affording their education, developing a strong support system, and connecting with members. The association offers two types of scholarships for outstanding females. An apprentice scholarship is available for females who are currently working at the apprentice level or graduating from their trade or training program to start work as apprentices. The academic scholarship is for female students who are currently enrolled in construction-related fields at four-year colleges, two-year community or technical colleges, or construction trade schools.

Women in HVACR (WHVACR) Scholarships

Women in HVACR is an organization designed to educate and mentor women on technology, opportunity, and trends within the HVAC-R industry. Females interested in an HVAC-R career can look to the Women in HVAC-R (WHVACR) organization for scholarship assistance. Scholarships are available to female high school seniors planning to enter the HVAC-R field in a trade school or a four-year university. Both scholarships require a minimum 3.0 GPA.

Soroptimist ‘Live Your Dream Award’

Soroptimist is a global women’s organization whose members volunteer to improve the lives of women and girls through programs leading to social and economic empowerment. It offers scholarships to women who provide primary financial support to their families and have been accepted into a vocational training and skills program or an undergraduate program. The organization offers the ‘Live Your Dream Award’ in three amounts: a Club-Level award of $1,000, a Region-Level award of $3,000 or $5,000; and international-level awards of $10,000.

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) Scholarships

Southcentral Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKYCTC) offers various scholarship opportunities to qualifying students. Many organizations and community individuals support the college. The Stewart Richey Construction Scholarship is awarded to Southcentral Kentucky Community & Technical College students who have completed one semester of HVAC or welding programs. Students must be enrolled at least part-time and be in good standing with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5.

Gadsden State Community College Scholarships

Students at Gadsden State Community College can obtain scholarships based on technical or academic achievements, extracurricular leadership activities, and exhibited talents.

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