AHR Expo presents scholarship to California HVACR vocational school

Engineered Systems, April, 2004

The 2004 AHR Expo Innovation Awards were given in eight specific categories to the most innovative products among the thousands on display during the January 2004 AHR Expo in Anaheim, CA. Proceeds from the entry fee of the second annual awards competition are being donated to the Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Technology (RACT) program at San Joaquin Valley College (SJVC) in Bakersfield, CA.

The $5,350 in scholarship money will benefit RACT students at SJVC as they further develop their skills and train to become certified service technicians in the HVACR industry.

"We see this as a win-win situation for everyone involved. The industry benefits from learning about product innovation, and an educational program is rewarded for teaching about innovations in products and technology to new generations of industry professionals," said Clay Stevens, president of International Exposition Company (IEC), which produces and manages the AHR Expo. "As the major trade show for the HVACR market, people look to the AHR Expo to provide leadership and support to art aspects of the industry."

The RACT curriculum and training focuses on diagnostic practices, customer relations, the science of heating and cooling principles, and basic theories of electricity. Students are taught how to operate, maintain, and repair residential and commercial equipment. In addition, the program emphasizes hands-on learning so students put their classroom knowledge into immediate practice.

Upon completion of this 14-month program, the SJVC graduates are prepared for an entry-level technician position in a high demand field. Elwin Hunt, the RACT program director at SJVC has high hopes and confidence in the job outlook for his students. "Graduates of our program are in very high demand," said Hunt. "Jobs are not only extremely available in California, but they are also steady and workable all year round."

Graduates of the RACT program at SJVC earn an Associate of Science degree, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and HVAC Excellence certification, as well as ARI competency testing.

Founded in 1977, San Joaquin Valley College is a regionally accredited junior college offering 20 accelerated Associate of Science degree programs in business, medical, and technical fields. The PACT program has been educating students for more than 16 years at SJVC. Currently, the program enrolls about 50 students who range in age and experience.

The AHR Expo Innovation Awards Scholarship is presented to a HVACR Vocational school in the region of each year's AHR Expo. According to show management, the Innovation Awards competition is designed to encourage product innovation, as well as provide vocational school scholarships for HVACR students. The 2005 AHR Expo will be in Orlando, FL, February 7-9, 2005.