“All too often, the cost of education prevents even the most passionate of people from their desired career path,” said Bruce Matulich, CEO, EGIA, and Foundation chairman. “The EGIA Foundation Scholarship Program promises to reduce that financial hurdle, creating a new generation of workforce that will positively impact their community, the economy and society as a whole.”

The EGIA Foundation Scholarship Program helps ease the barriers to entry to employment in the home services industry by shouldering part of the cost of education and training for selected individuals. The scholarship program supports academic and trade education at a wide variety of approved community colleges, private career schools, and trade schools that offer courses relevant to careers in the home services industry.

The Foundation’s first scholarships are for students interested in a career related to HVACR. As it grows, the EGIA Foundation Scholarship Program will expand and provide awards in multiple vocations within the home services industry like solar PV, plumbing, and home performance. The 2018-2019 program will use Scholarship America recipient selection criteria, including the consideration of academic performance, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, statement of career and educational goals and objectives, unusual personal or family circumstances, and an outside appraisal. Financial need will be considered.

Specifically, applicants must:
 Be a high school senior, high school graduate or GED equivalent enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited two-year college, vocational or technical school or other approved technical institute in the United States for the 2018-2019 academic year.
 Enroll in an HVACR technology-related course of study.
• Have a minimum grade point average of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent).

Up to 20 awards of $2,500 each will be granted. Awards are one-time only and are for specific courses of study relevant to a career in the home services industry only. For more information, visit www.egia.org. 

Publication date: 1/15/2018