FALLS CHURCH, VA — This year, the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors—National Association (PHCC) Educational Foundation scholarship program plans to award 55 scholarships totaling $132,000. Awards are available to plumbing and HVACR apprentices working for PHCC—National Association members, trade school or community college students taking plumbing or HVAC classes and college students pursuing majors directly related to the plumbing-heating-cooling industry.
The Foundation’s is proud to announce the addition of two new awards for 2024:
- Gil Meyerowitz Memorial Scholarship – The Meyerowitz family runs several supply houses in New York, plus the national SupplyHouse.com site. Gil Meyerowitz was the owner of Meyerowitz Supply in Queens. When he passed away in April 2023, a portion of his estate was allocated to funding veteran scholarship awards through the Foundation. Beginning this year, a $3,000 scholarship will be available to qualified applicants who are also a United States Armed Forces veteran; a current or former National Reservist or a member of the National Guard.
- Ferguson Cares HOLA Scholarships – The national supplier Ferguson provides their associates with ways to support their interests through its internal Business Resource Groups (BRGs). Ferguson Hispanic and Latin American (HOLA) BRG members support organizations that focus on the educational development of individuals within the Latino community, particularly those involved in trade work. This year the Ferguson Cares Foundation is providing funding to support four new $1,500 scholarships, which will be available to qualified Hispanic or Latino applicants.
All applicants are required to answer a few questions about their interest in the trades and career plans, plus provide a letter of recommendation. Apprentices can get that recommendation from their PHCC member contractor employer, while trade school or college students can have an instructor or guidance counselor write their recommendation. Awards range from $1,500 to $10,000; with the most awards set at $3,000 each. The deadline for all submission materials is May 1st and the application can be found at https://phccfoundation.org/scholarships.
“Our scholarships are designed to help open opportunities for those interested in a plumbing and HVAC trades career,” said John Zink, Foundation VP of Development and Communications. “For many otherwise qualified individuals or their potential employers, the cost of apprenticeship tuition or a trades-related college degree is a roadblock. This year our scholarships, including the new awards we are rolling out, will help over 50 future tradespeople overcome that funding problem and have their chance at starting a great career.”
The scholarships are funded by contractor donations to the PHCC Educational Foundation and by these corporate sponsors: A. O. Smith, Bradford White Corporation, Delta Faucet Company, Ferguson Cares Foundation, InSinkErator, RIDGID, Scorpion Home Services Marketing, State Water Heaters, Sterling (a Kohler Brand) and SupplyHouse.com.