A. O. Smith Rewards Hardworking Students with PCA Scholarship

ASHLAND CITY, TENN. – Leading water heater manufacturer A. O. Smith has announced the Professional Contractor Association (PCA) Scholarship recipients for the 2011–12 academic school year. A. O. Smith awarded a total of $20,000 to 10 finalists.

“At A. O. Smith, we understand the importance of education and all of the opportunity it provides,” said Mike Parker, vice president of marketing at A. O. Smith Water Products Company. “A. O. Smith is proud to help these students in their quests for higher education, and the PCA Scholarship allows us to do just that.”

This year’s 10 outstanding scholarship recipients include:

• Shawn Bolton of Edgewater, N.J., a student at Burlington County Institute of Technology;
• Josiah Highmark of Two Harbors, Minn., a political science major at Wheaton College;
• Brittany Histing of Sicklerville, N.J., a nursing major at University of Connecticut;
• Allison Licwov of Beverly, W.Va., a chemistry and pharmacy major at West Virginia Wesleyan College;
• Jessica Peterson of Portage, Wis., a biochemistry major at University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point;
• Amber Petersons of Lake Bluff, Ill., a biology major at College of Lake County
• Megan Pickhardt of Randolph, Wis., a marketing major at University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire;
• Kora Plucinski of Elkhorn, Wis., a marketing major at University of Wisconsin–Madison;
• Cody Roberts of Franklin, Ind., a computer engineering major at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology;
• Samantha Weaver of Lititz, Pa., a biology major at Goshen College

This is the 11th year the company has sponsored the scholarship program. Since the program began in 2001, A. O. Smith has assisted 120 students, giving $239,000 in scholarship awards.

The scholarship program is open to high school seniors, high school graduates and GED recipients or students currently enrolled in a full-time accredited two- or four-year college, university or vocational school. Any spouse, child or grandchild of a PCA member with a desire for continuing his or her education may compete for a scholarship award.

In June 1999, A. O. Smith founded the Professional Contractor Association in order to help contractors succeed in an increasingly competitive marketplace. In addition to the scholarship program, the PCA offers its members valuable business training and services to enhance their professional image and expand their business into new commercial water heater markets. For more information, visit www.aospca.com.