SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company is partnering with the Kellogg Community College Foundation to offer a new scholarship program designed to increase the number of Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration professionals in Michigan focused on sustainable practices.
SEMCO’s new Workforce Empowerment Scholarship fund totals $235,000 specifically dedicated to supporting KCC HVACR students.
The goal of the scholarship, which will be facilitated by SEMCO’s Energy Waste Reduction (EWR) program and the KCC Foundation, is to support the development of a diverse workforce that is not only proficient in advanced HVACR systems, but also dedicated to the sustainable use of natural gas.
EWR Manager Patrick Leahy said the new scholarship program demonstrates that “SEMCO is committed to fostering a culture of learning and skill development in the trades and believes in the power of apprenticeships and hands-on training programs.”
“Through this scholarship, we aim to drive progress and innovation in EWR and related careers and believe that the future of the HVAC industry lies in the ability to effectively balance performance and cost,” Leahy said. “By investing in the education and training of individuals committed to these principles, we hope to contribute to the growth of a skilled and diverse workforce capable of leading the way in energy efficiency and natural gas conservation.”
Eligibility requirements and application details will be available soon on the KCC Foundation Scholarships web page at kellogg.edu/kccscholarships.
KCC Foundation Executive Director Teresa Durham said the scholarship fund will award annually and benefit several HVACR students at KCC starting in the 2024-25 academic year.
KCC offers a 60-credit Associate of Applied Science in Industrial Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration degree and a 25-credit Industrial Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Certificate.
“HVACR is a major part of the economy and, like other disciplines, there is a shortage of trained technicians entering the field for these high-paying careers,” said KCC HVACR instructor Andrew Redlon. “This gift will open many educational pathways for new and existing HVACR students.”
Industrial Trades programming at KCC – including HVACR programming – is unique in that registration for the training modules is open on a rolling basis, meaning students can sign up and start training at any time after registration opens for the semester.
Additionally, training is self-paced, and instead of attending classes at specific times in traditional classrooms, Industrial Trades students complete short, hands-on training modules on their own time in actual training lab environments.
For more information about KCC’s HVACR Program, visit kellogg.edu/hvacr.
About SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company
SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company, headquartered in Port Huron, is a regulated public utility that delivers natural gas to approximately 300,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in service territories in the southern half of Michigan’s lower peninsula (including in and around the cities of Albion, Battle Creek, Holland, Niles, Port Huron and Three Rivers) and in the central, eastern and western parts of the state’s upper peninsula.
SEMCO is regulated by the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC). The MPSC regulates the cost of gas and other rates and the terms and conditions of service to SEMCO customers. SEMCO’s overall strategy is to provide excellent customer service and to grow their existing businesses.
SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company is a division of SEMCO Energy, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of AltaGas Ltd.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Pictured above, from left to right, are KCC Workforce Solutions Account Manager Laura Zalle; SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company Energy Waste Reduction Manager Patrick Leahy; SEMCO ENERGY Gas Company Key Accounts Executive Aaron Pollman; KCC President Dr. Paul Watson; KCC Foundation Scholarship and Event Manager Tammy Morgan; KCC HVACR Professor Andrew Redlon; KCC Foundation Executive Director Teresa Durham; KCC Board of Trustees Secretary Patrick O’Donnell; KCC Vice President for Communications and Advancement Eric Greene; KCC Board of Trustees Trustee T.R. Shaw, Jr.; KCC Foundation Board of Directors Chair Andrew Schweitzer; KCC Chief Financial Officer Rick Scott; and KCC Foundation Board of Directors member Dr. John J.H. Schwarz.
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