In the application process, scholarship candidates answer questions about their involvement in the trades and future career goals. They are also asked to supply a letter of recommendation, which apprentices can secure from their PHCC member contractor employer, and students can obtain it from a teacher or academic advisor.

Scholarship amounts vary between $1,500 and $10,000, with most scholarships valued at $3,000. The deadline for all required documents to be turned in is Thursday, May 1, and the application form can be accessed here.

The scholarships are funded by contractor donations to the PHCC Educational Foundation and by these corporate sponsors: A. O. Smith, Bradford White Corp., Delta Faucet Co., the Ferguson Cares Foundation, Home Depot Pro, InSinkErator, Ridgid, Scorpion Home Services Marketing, State Water Heaters, and Sterling (a Kohler brand), the press release said.

Contractor business owners want to ensure that apprentices and technicians are invested in their training and commonly will require new hires to pay for their own classes. This can be difficult for employees who are also supporting a family or stretching their finances on entry-level earnings. The scholarships can provide a bridge to the point where their growing skills deliver the job earnings needed to self-fund the rest of their training, the press release said.

“And for employers who pay for their employees’ training, our scholarships can free up training funds the company can reinvest in other areas,” said John Zink, the foundation's vice president of development and communications.