A quality education can provide a leg-up when entering the skilled trades workforce, but the costs related to that education can be high. That’s why Shurtape Technologies, LLC, a leading producer of pressure-sensitive tapes, including HVAC tapes, is on a mission to educate for success.
Over the next several months, the company, through its Shurtape® Mission: HVAC, Educating for Success program, will follow three students as they navigate through a trade program in pursuit of a future in the HVAC field. Each month, these students will be challenged with a themed mission that will not only test their classroom learnings, but also their real-life experiences and skills. Upon completion of each mission, students will report their findings via blog posts on the Shurtape.com website.
They will also be rewarded for their participation in the program and completion of all 10 missions – each student will receive $5,000 to put toward the cost of their education and help prepare them for future employment.
“Skilled trades, including the HVAC field, face a worrisome future as many skilled workers will be retiring over the next few years, leaving a void of replacements. Trade school can be expensive, but provides the quality educational background that is highly sought after by employers,” said Glenn Walter, product manager for building and construction tapes at Shurtape. “There’s a strong and viable future in HVAC, especially since it’s a career path with year-round demand. Our Mission: HVAC program is designed to highlight the training required to become an HVAC professional and also celebrate these students’ numerous accomplishments.”
Shurtape invited HVAC students from Athens Technical College (Athens Tech) in Athens, Ga., to participate in this inaugural program. The Air Conditioning Technology program at Athens Tech is designed to prepare students for a successful career in heating, air conditioning and refrigeration. It takes approximately 1½ – 2 years to complete the coursework, which includes 10 HVAC courses and four non-HVAC courses (Math, English, Computers and Employability).
Meet the Students
Daniel Buth: A 50-year-old student who began the program in February 2012 and plans to graduate in September 2015. Daniel views a career in the HVAC field as an opportunity to learn – about new sources of energy being introduced in HVAC performance systems, how to perform installations and how to educate customers about the industry in general. In the future, Daniel wants to start his own HVAC business, for which he hopes to have two fully equipped vans and hire certified technicians.
Josue Trejo: A 24-year-old student who began the program in January 2013 and plans to graduate in December 2015. Josue may have started his college career in marketing, but quickly switched his major to HVAC after spending a summer working with a refrigeration company, crediting the change to the rewarding experience of fixing a piece of equipment that’s essential to a business or household. He’s also excited that the job involves knowledge of multiple trades and offers the ability to never stop learning. After graduation, Josue wants to secure a great job and eventually start his own company.
Matt Morris: A 30-year-old student who began the program in August 2014 and plans to graduate in May 2016. If you asked Matt why he chose the HVAC field, he’d tell you it’s for job security and the satisfaction of helping others. He also enjoys working with his hands and has a knack for mechanics. Matt wants to find a job in the HVAC field upon graduating from Athens Tech, become certified and eventually own his own business.
Daniel, Josue and Matt received their first mission in January 2015. Their last mission was assigned in October 2015.
The program and/or products are in no way sponsored or endorsed by Athens Technical College. College and student names are used with permission.