Hillside Heating and Cooling establishes HVAC scholarship
Published on November 19, 2024
From the left are: Executive Director of the Cecil College Foundation and Alumni Development Karen Uricoli, Cecil College President Mary Way Bolt, Hillside Heating and Cooling owner Jim Sellers, Hillside Heating and Cooling Chief Marketing Officer Matt Urban, Dean of Continuing Education and Workforce Development Miles Dean, and Vice President of Academic Programs Christy Dryer.
NORTH EAST, Md: Hillside Heating and Cooling, a leader in heating and cooling solutions for over 70 years, has established the Hillside Heating and Cooling Scholarship through the Cecil College Foundation. This initiative aims to support students enrolled in the National Center for Construction Education and Research’s (NCCER) HVAC program at Cecil College, providing up to three scholarships worth $1,800 each, totaling up to $5,400 annually.
“I know how much a scholarship can help a young person realize their dreams and I also know the difficulty of keeping somebody fully invested in their future,” said Jim Sellers, owner of Hillside Heating and Cooling. “The idea is to start with three students a year by providing about 80 percent of what the tuition costs. With the size of the program, we feel that’s a pretty good impact.”
The NCCER HVAC program at Cecil College is a 168-hour curriculum that prepares learners for a career as skilled heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers. It covers the concepts technicians need to install, maintain, and troubleshoot HVACR systems safely. Students can earn the following certifications: NCCER Core credential, NCCER HVAC Level 1 credential, and EPA 608 Certification. Classes are held twice a week in the evenings at Cecil County School of Technology from September through May.
“Hillside Heating and Cooling’s generous scholarship support will empower our HVAC students to gain the skills needed to succeed in a high-demand industry,” said Cecil College President, Dr. Mary Way Bolt. “This partnership strengthens our commitment to training a skilled workforce ready to meet the growing needs of our region.”
Hillside Heating & Cooling is an award-winning, full-service heating, air conditioning, heating oil delivery, and commercial fuel company serving residential and commercial customers for over 70 years in New Castle County, De., Cecil County, Md., and Southern Chester County, Pa.
“We believe it’s important to support the next generation by building pathways into well-paying skilled trade jobs. That’s where our hearts are, and we’re very excited to watch where this all goes,” said Mr. Sellers, who hopes other trade businesses will see that offering similar scholarship assistance to young people entering trades benefits the entire community.
The HVAC industry is experiencing significant growth, with the U.S. Department of Labor projecting a nine percent increase in employment for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers from 2023 to 2033. Construction demands, a growing need for sophisticated climate-control systems, and a strong emphasis on energy efficiency and pollution reduction drive this surge.
The Hillside Heating and Cooling scholarship will aid aspiring HVAC technicians in pursuing their careers in this vital industry. About 42,500 openings for heating, air conditioning, and refrigeration mechanics and installers are projected each year, on average, over the decade, creating many opportunities to enter this field (U.S. Department of Labor, Employment).
For more information about the scholarship or to apply, students can contact the Continuing Education and Workforce Development office at 443-907-1379 or email skills4u@nullcecil.edu.