The Clifford H. "Ted" Rees Jr. Scholarship Foundation awarded scholarships totaling $65,000 to 39 students, including five military veteran program recipients, studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry.

 The foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) and the Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA).

"We are pleased to award scholarships to these qualified and dedicated students and veterans, and we look forward to welcoming them into the industry," said AHRI President and CEO Stephen Yurek. "Each year, the foundation provides aid to an increasing number of recipients, helping to promote careers in the industry and fill good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced."

HVACR and water heating technician program recipients:

Justin Williams, Moore Norman Technology Center - Franklin Road Campus, Norman, Oklahoma

Brandon Girard, Northeast Technical Institute, Scarborough, Maine

William Macdonald, Northern Michigan Univeristy, Marquette, Michigan

Zachary Stewart, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama

Rocky Boshell, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama

Ricardo Orozco, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, California

Chandler Ellis, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama

Jessica Davis, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama

Logan Guthrie, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama

Taylor Tadlock, Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minneapolis

Eduardo Lopez, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, California

Jeremy Templeton, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, California

Mark Ruiz, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, California

Colby Buntin, Minneapolis Community & Technical College, Minneapolis

Raul Bertoli Vega, CBT College - Hialeah Campus, Hialeah, Florida

Osmany Garciga, CBT College - Flagler Campus, Miami

Garrett Miller, Intercoast Colleges, Sacramento, California

Mason Ellis, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama

Chandler Sawyer, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, Alabama

Alan Carroll, Gadsden State Community College, Gadsden, Alabama

Alex Woody, Tulsa Tech - Lemley Memorial Campus, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Gregory Bush, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, Michigan

Justin Adams, Illinois Central College, East Peoria, Illinois

Ismel Rodriguez, CBT College - Hialeah Campus, Hialeah, Florida

Elias Flores, Atlantic Technical College, Coconut Creek, Florida

Paul Paiz, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Ronny Rodriguez, The Electrical Training Center Inc., Copiague, New York

Christian Morano, Pennsylvania College Of Technology, Wiliamsport, Pennsylvania

Christian Castillo, Tyler Junior College West Campus, Tyler, Texas

Lorenzo Luna, Tyler Junior College, Tyler, Texas

Cheyenne Benge, Perry Technical Institute, Yakima, Washington

Jose Luna, Perry Technical Institute, Yakima, Washington

Joshua Taylor, Tulsa Technology Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma

Andrew Bresnahan, Intercoast College, Rancho Cordova, California

Veterans program recipients:

Cedric Washington, Bevill State Community College, Sumiton, Alabama

Garrett Hamilton, San Joaquin Valley College - Temecula, Temecula, California

Luis Zarabia, Intercoast College, Sacramento, California

Jeremy Galindo, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, California

Juan Villarreal, Brownson Technical School, Anaheim, California

Since the Rees Scholarship Foundation was founded in 2003, it has awarded more than $800,000 in scholarships to more than 400 deserving students and instructors.