Clifford H. “Ted” Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation Awards $166,500 in Educational Assistance to Aspiring HVACR Technicians

A Message from AHRI

Arlington, Va. – The Clifford H. "Ted" Rees, Jr. Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation of the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), announced its 2025 scholarship awards, totaling $166,500, to 93 students, including five military veterans, and 11 SkillsUSA awardees studying to become technicians in the HVACR and water heating industry.

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

HVACR and Water Heating Technician Program Recipients:

Aaidyn Mikulasy, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Aaron Bryant, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Adonijah Palmer, Helms College, Macon, GA

Alberto Reyes, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Alex Kerley, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN

Alex Montejo, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN

Alex Waters, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN

Alexis Ziegler, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI

Ambrose Clenaghann, Universal Technical Institute, Bloomfield, NJ

Andrew Williams, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN

Brayden Cleland, John A Logan College, Carterville, IL

Brody Casteel, Northwest Mississippi Community College, Senatobia, MS

Caleb Wells, Great Oaks Career Campuses, Sharonville, OH **

Carson Hines, Shelton State Community College, Tuscaloosa, AL

Cole Sarni, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Cole Walker, College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

Connor Gagliano, Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO

Cristian Perez, Tyler Junior College West Campus, Tyler, TX

Daniel Busa, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Daniel Romero, Conchise College, Sierra Vista, AZ

Daniel Urdahl, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI **

David Wencil, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI

Dean Dombrowski, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Dennis Herrera, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Dominick Crescimanno, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Dontavion Brockington, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN

D’Sean Watson, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI

Eraldo Fernandez, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Ezeekiel Puello, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Gage Sizemore, John A Logan College, Carterville, IL **

Garlise Boni, Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO

George Sqalli, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Jace Larson, Northland Community and Technical College, East Grand Forks, MN

Jacob Gilliam, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN

Jaden Barber, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Jesse Johnson, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Knoxville, TN **

Jim Pfeffer, Hennepin Technical College, Eden Prairie, MN

Jonah Moya, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI

Jonathan Miller, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Jordan Paul, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Jorge Perez, Tyler Junior College West Campus, Tyler, TX

Jose Feliciano Vargas Oliver, Montgomery Community College, Troy, NC **

Julian Figueroa, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Kai’ea Kiaaina, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI

Kelvin Alvarado, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Kenya Franks, Collin Community College, Allen, TX

Kevin Villatoro, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Leo Chai, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Leo Trapani, SUNY Delhi, Delhi, NY

Lucas Danielson, Northwestern Technological Institute, Southfield, MI

Mark Franklin, Front Range Community College, Fort Collins, CO

Michael Rhodes, Southeast Community College, Milford, NE **

Nick Pomilla, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Noah Bain, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN

Richardson Altidor, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Roberto Barbecho, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Sam Solorzano, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Samuel White, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN **

Saul Berrera, College of Southern Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

Seth Reiffer, Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI **

Shannon Fritz, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI

Timothy Wilson, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Trenton Morris, TCI – Temperature Control Institute, Memphis, TN

Ty Higgins, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL

Tyee Dowling, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Tyler Panuccio, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

William Heid, Oklahoma State University-Institute of Technology, Okmulgee, OK

William Lawson, Tennessee College of Applied Technology, Crossville, TN

Wyatt Joiner, Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center, Poplar Bluff, MO

** Received Spring and Fall Scholarships

Veterans Program Recipients:

Edwin Yanes, Electrical and HVAC/R Training Center, Copiague, NY

Ervin Smith, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL

John Ray, John A Logan College, Carterville, IL

Trinity Credille, Bevill State Community College, Hamilton, AL

Zachary Waldon, Honolulu Community College, Honolulu, HI

2025 SkillsUSA Awardees:

Austin Fish

Benjamin Oman

Caylan Hixon

Christopher Paukstis

Isaac Rinehart

Jason Enzenauer

Jonathan Rubio

Morgan Manning

Noah Durazo

Richard Steed

Tyler Tripp

Since its founding in 2003, the Rees Scholarship Foundation has awarded more than $1.6 million in scholarships to over 900 deserving students. Scholarship recipients also received a free Ready-to-Work test through our partnership with North American Technician Excellence (NATE).