The Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors (PHCC) Educational Foundation administers the scholarship program and is responsible for selecting the award winners. The scholarship program is designed to attract the new talent essential to the future of the plumbing and HVACR industries.

Jackson Bauer has enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, pursuing a degree in mechanical engineering. His father is a civil engineer and several other family members work in related professions. In his words, they have inspired him to pursue his degree with the goal of “making current infrastructure systems more efficient, cleaner, and safer.”

Patrick Riley is a full-time undergraduate student at Providence College pursuing a business degree. He is the son of a plumber and has grown up in the plumbing profession. He has spent time learning how a small business is run and about bidding jobs, managing work, and dealing with job site activities.

“In a time when so many bright students are steered away from the trades, here we have two students who are following their family footsteps into our profession,” said David Chisolm, director of marketing, A.O. Smith. “A.O. Smith is proud to provide these students with assistance in reaching their educational goals.”

To qualify for a PHCC Educational Foundation scholarship, students must submit a detailed application including a letter of recommendation from an active member of the PHCC National Association and enroll in a plumbing-, heating-, or cooling-related course of study or apprentice program such as business management, construction management, or science specializing in mechanical construction or mechanical engineering.

Publication date: 2/3/2014

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