Student in Four-Year HVAC Major Awarded National Scholarship
Published 08.27.2010
A heating, ventilation and air conditioning design technology student at Pennsylvania College of Technology has received a $2,000 award from the National Association of Oil Heat Service Managers.
Bradley T. Rydbom, of Tipton, was granted one of nine scholarships in honor of Dave Nelsen, of the Kurz Oil Corp., who was the trade association's education chairman at the time of his death in 1998.
The Nelsen scholarships are open to anyone attending or planning to attend a technical college or trade school and who is involved in the industry. As part of his winning effort, Rydbom wrote a 600-word essay to answer the question, "What are your goals and why do you wish to better yourself within the oil heating industry?"
"As a student studying heating, air conditioning and refrigeration, I am excited to see the changes that are being made in the heating industry because they are changes that are going to affect my career and how I go about doing my job," he wrote, noting the technological improvements that have helped increase reliability, maintenance and efficiency.
"I am glad to be part of an industry that is evolving and making advancements, and not one that is declining and becoming less important."
He received his associate degree in heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology in May; then "because I knew there was so much more to learn and "¦ that I will have a very good chance at receiving an excellent job after graduation," Rydbom explained he re-enrolled in the bachelor-degree major.
The scholarships were awarded during a May conference in Providence, R.I., which Rydbom was unable to attend. As in past years, Penn College was represented at the event by Richard C. Taylor, associate professor of plumbing and heating.
For more about the HVAC program and other majors in Penn College's School of Construction and Design Technologies, visit online or call 570-327-4513. For general information about the college, visit on the Web , e-mail or call toll-free 800-367-9222.