ASHRAE’s Announces 2024-25 Society Scholarship Recipients
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Karen Buckley Washington
Senior Public Relations Specialist
kbwashington@ashrae.org
ATLANTA (August 29, 2024) – ASHRAE has announced the recipients of 36 Society scholarships, totaling $208,500, for the 2024-25 academic year.
"Scholarships are an essential investment in the future of our industry,” said 2024-25 ASHRAE President M. Dennis Knight, P.E., BEMP, Fellow Life Member ASHRAE. “By supporting talented students who are passionate about building sciences and HVAC&R, we are not only helping them achieve their educational goals, but we are also empowering the next generation of professionals. Congratulations to this year’s scholarship recipients.”
The following award provides a $12,500 scholarship:
Presidents Scholarship
Haylee Nicholas, architectural engineering, Kansas State University, is the recipient of the Presidents Scholarship.
The following awards provide a $10,000 scholarship:
Gordon V. R. Holness Engineering Scholarship
Rachel Xing, architectural engineering, University of Texas at Austin, is the recipient of the Gordon V. R. Holness Engineering Scholarship named in honor of ASHRAE Presidential Member Gordon V.R. Holness, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, who served as the Society’s president in 2009-10.
Gordon V. R. Holness Engineering Technology Scholarship
Avery Burger, mechanical engineering technology, Ferris State University; Houston Norris, mechanical engineering technology, University of North Carolina Charlotte and Hutch Warren, architectural engineering technology, Vermont Technical College, are the recipient of the Gordon V.R. Holness Engineering Technology Scholarship named in honor of ASHRAE Presidential Member Holness, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member, who served as the Society’s president in 2009-10.
Reuben Trane Scholarships
Kayana Paulina Chita, mechanical engineering, Manipal Academy of Higher Education; Ben Hardy, mechanical engineering, University of Louisville and Ismail Megri, mechanical engineering – architectural engineering minor, North Carolina A&T State University, are the recipients of a Reuben Trane Scholarship which is to be awarded over two years and was established by the Trane Co. in memory its founder, an innovative engineer, inventor and business executive, who held 28 patents.
Willis H. Carrier Scholarships
Colton Cunningham, mechanical engineering, California State University, Fresno and Collins Tambi, mechanical engineering, Minnesota State University, are the recipients of the Willis H. Carrier Scholarship established by the Carrier Corp. in memory of its founder, who installed the world’s first scientifically designed air-conditioning system.
The following awards provide one-year $5,000 scholarships:
Alwin B. Newton Scholarship
Aman Vats, mechanical & automation engineering, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, is the recipient of the Alwin B. Newton Scholarship named for an industry pioneer and ASHRAE Fellow who was granted 219 patents.
ASHRAE Region IV Benny Bootle Scholarship
Kiran Kapileshwari, mechanical engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, is the recipient of the ASHRAE Region IV Benny Bootle Scholarship named for a former Region IV chair and regional director on the ASHRAE Board of Directors.
David C.J. Peters Scholarship
Geoffrey Sanderson, architectural engineering, University of Nebraska, is the recipients of the David C. J. Peters Scholarship created by Southland Industries to honor Peters, an advocate of recruiting quality.
Charles E. Henck Scholarship
Iretomiwa Idowu, Mechatronics, robotics & automation engineering, Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, is the recipient of the Charles E. Henck Scholarship which recognizes students within the geographical area of ASHRAE Region III (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington DC).
Duane Hanson Scholarship
Grant Heinburg, mechanical engineering & music, Bradley University, is the recipient of the Duane Hanson Scholarship established by Gayner Engineers and is named for the company’s former president.
Frank M. Coda Scholarship
Cameron Cox, mechanical engineering, University of Hartford, is the recipient of the Frank M. Coda Scholarship created in memory of ASHRAE’s former executive vice president, who served from 1981-2004.
Freshman Engineering Scholarship
Bella Jones, architectural engineering, University of Nebraska, Omaha, is the recipients of the Freshman Engineering Scholarship.
General Scholarship
Hannah Dearman-So, mechanical engineering, Harvey Mudd College and Hannah McCormick, architectural engineering, Kansas State University, are the recipients of a General Scholarship.
James R. Bullock Jr. Scholarship
Athena Shier, mechanical engineering, University of South Dakota, is the recipient of the James R. Bullock, Jr. Scholarship named in memory of the late Bullock Jr., P.E., Life Member of ASHRAE, who served as president of Environmental Air Systems Inc.
Legacy Scholarship
Dylan Purdy, mechanical engineering, North Dakota State University is the recipient of the Legacy Scholarship.
Lynn G. Bellenger Engineering Scholarship
Reem Al-Tassi, mechanical engineering, University of Michigan, Dearborn is the recipient of the Lynn G. Bellenger Engineering Scholarship which recognizes female undergraduate engineering students and is named in memory of the Society’s first female president, who served as the Society’s president in 2010-11.
Prem Jain Scholarship
Lillian Madhan, mechanical engineering, University of Tulsa, is the recipient of the Prem Jain Scholarship. The scholarship was created by Dr. Prem Jain, Life Member of ASHRAE, founder of ASHRAE’s India Chapter-at-Large & presidential member of the ASHRAE India Chapter, founder and presidential member of ISHRAE (Indian Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers).
William P. Chapman Scholarship
William G. Johnson, electrical engineering, University of Arkansas, is the recipient of the William P. Chapman Scholarship, who served as Society president from 1976-1977.
The following awards provide one-year $3,000 scholarships:
Donald E. Nichols Scholarship
Levi Brooks, mechanical engineering, Tennessee Technology University, is the recipient of the Donald E. Nichols Scholarship named for a former ASHRAE vice president and graduate of Tennessee Technological University.
Henry Adams Scholarship
Keshav Vats, Mechanical & Automation Engineering, Maharaja Agrasen Institute of Technology, is the recipient of the Henry Adams Scholarship, named in memory of charter member and sixth president of ASHRAE’s predecessor society, ASHVE.
High School Senior Scholarships
Marlowe Gerhart, mechanical engineering, Benedictine College; Charles McEwen, engineering, Queens University; James Meggitt, mechanical engineering, Iowa State University and Kaden Semlow, mechanical engineering, Cedarville University, are the recipients of a High School Senior Scholarship.
New Jersey Chapter Scholarship
Abigail Jones, civil and environmental engineering, Rowan University, is the recipient of the New Jersey Chapter Scholarship.
ASHRAE Region I Setty Family Foundation Scholarship
Samantha Lillis, civil & mechanical engineering dual degree, University of Hartford, is the recipient of the ASHRAE Region I Setty Family Foundation Scholarship named in honor of Boggarm Setty, Fellow ASHRAE, Life Member.
ASHRAE Region III Setty Family Foundation Scholarship
Elmer Araujo, architectural engineering, Pennsylvania State University, is the recipient of the ASHRAE Region III Setty Family Foundation Scholarship.
Henry Adams Scholarship
Peh Kyung Kit, mechanical engineering, Universiti Malaya, is the recipient of the Henry Adams Scholarship established by Henry Adams, Inc. in memory of its founder, a charter member and sixth president of ASHRAE’S predecessor society, ASHVE, established in 1899.
ASHRAE Region VIII Scholarship
Kyle Beishir, architectural engineering, Texas A&M University, is the recipient of the ASHRAE Region VIII Scholarship.
ASHRAE Houston Chapter RO Hunton Scholarship
Maddy Vanlandingham, chemical engineering, is the recipient of the ASHRAE Houston Chapter RO Hunton Scholarship.
Applications are now being accepted for the 2025-26 undergraduate engineering, technology, regional/chapter and university-specific scholarships. The application deadline is December 1, 2025.
Contact scholarships@ashrae.org for more information on ASHRAE scholarships or to view eligibility requirements and application materials, visit ashrae.org/scholarships.
About ASHRAE
Founded in 1894, ASHRAE is a global professional society committed to serve humanity by advancing the arts and sciences of heating ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration, and their allied fields.
As an industry leader in research, standards writing, publishing, certification and continuing education, ASHRAE and its members are dedicated to promoting a healthy and sustainable built environment for all, through strategic partnerships with organizations in the HVAC&R community and across related industries.
The Society is showcasing integrated building solutions and sustainability in action through the opening of the ASHRAE Global Headquarters building in metro-Atlanta, Georgia.
For more information and to stay up-to-date on ASHRAE, visit ashrae.org and connect on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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