White Paper: Finding Scholarships for Technical Training Programs

INTRODUCTION
For students pursuing
higher education or
advanced vocational
training, it is always
advised that they apply
for scholarships to
reduce the financial
burden on themselves
and their families.
Fortunately for
students interested
in pursuing technical
career programs,
many scholarships are
available to help them
reach their educational
goals. With so many
scholarships available,
it may be difficult to
know where to start the
search. Here is a brief
guide to help students
looking for scholarships
to attend technical
career programs.

Consult Your Network of Contacts
A good starting place for any scholarship search is to ask
immediate contacts. Some of a student’s best resources will include:
High school career counselors:
An obvious but often overlooked resource is the
high school’s career center. Career counselors
often have bookcases and file cabinets full of
scholarship applications, and they are more
than willing to direct eager students to ones that
suit their goals.
Technical subject teachers:
Another resource to tap into for high school
students is an instructor who teaches the subject
a student wishes to pursue. Carpentry, welding,
autoshop, and other technically-oriented
teachers may know of good opportunities for
students interested in those fields, including
training programs and scholarships.
Financial aid advisors:
If you already have a list of prospective programs
in mind, call or visit the school’s financial aid
office and ask what type of scholarships are
available for enrolled students. Sometimes
students are automatically checked against
available scholarships, but some scholarships
may require that students apply themselves and
provide additional materials.
Employers:
If you are already working in your chosen field but
want to advance your skills, ask your employer
about tuition scholarships for advanced training.
Some employers are willing to pay for or partially
subsidize an employee’s continued education in
order to retain highly skilled workers. If relatives
work in the industry, ask if their companies offer
similar training opportunities.
Online Scholarship Database Searches
After going through contacts, the Internet is a good resource to use to broaden a scholarship search.
Sites featuring online scholarship databases, such as www.fastweb.com and www.collegeboard.org
may be particularly useful in finding a vast number of scholarships in a short period of time. However,
users should also be aware that competition for these particular scholarships is often much greater
than those offered by local organizations. Also, keep in mind you should never pay for a scholarship
opportunity. If you are asked to pay any type of fee, the scholarship is not valid.

®
GI Bill and Military Tuition Assistance
For students concerned about being able to pay
for college, enlisting in the US Armed Forces may
be a smart option. Funding from the Military Tuition
Assistance program, the Montgomery GI Bill, the
Post 9/11 GI Bill, or the Yellow Ribbon Program
will be able to partially or fully pay tuition, lab,
enrollment, and other mandatory fees associated
with completing an educational course of study.
Military veterans and active duty personnel alike
are able to take advantage of government-backed
educational funding. If you currently serve, will
serve, or have already served in the military,
contact your preferred technical school’s financial
aid department to verify that the school is able to
receive military tuition assistance funds and to
determine what costs will actually be covered.
The Refrigeration School Scholarships for
HVAC/R and Electrical Studies
To qualify for an RSI scholarship, candidates must
meet all RSI eligibility requirements as well as
already be scheduled to start training at RSI for the
Electro-Mechanical Technologies or Mechanical
Maintenance Engineering program to be eligible,
unless otherwise specified. Candidates need
to refer to the scholarship information page to
determine topic of essay (where applicable) and
must meet all regular admissions requirements
and be scheduled to start training prior to applying
for a scholarship. If a student changes his/her reenter
date, his/her scholarship award may be
forfeited. This scholarship is not transferrable
and cannot be used in conjunction with any
other scholarship RSI offers. Only one award
will be given per student. If a student is eligible
for multiple scholarships, the scholarship that is
most beneficial to the student will be awarded.
Scholarships will be distributed incrementally over
the 2nd half of the program.
Scholarship eligibility requires continuous
enrollment. Failure to maintain Satisfactory
Academic Progress, or minimum 90% attendance
rate and “B” average or higher per course, may
result in the probation and possible loss of
scholarship. Termination from training may result
in the loss of this scholarship, which may increase
your tuition obligation to RSI. Tuition charges will be
based on the amount reflected on your Enrollment
Agreement. See the reverse side of your enrollment
agreement for the school’s refund policy. RSI
scholarships cannot be used in conjunction with
other RSI scholarships. Only one award will be
given per student. If a student is eligible for multiple
scholarships, the most beneficial will be selected.
The following scholarship information is intended
as an introduction to RSI’s scholarships. Additional
requirement information can be found at: http://
www.refrigerationschool.com/scholarshipslist.html
.

Types Of Scholarships
Amity Native American Scholarship
$4,500. Candidates must provide proof of Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native
Hawaiian descent, and enrollment (current or previous) in the Amity Circle Tree Ranch. One
page essay also required.
Amity Scholarship
$1,500. Candidates must provide proof of enrollment (current or previous) in the Amity Circle
Tree Ranch. One page essay also required.
Tribal Scholarship
$2,000. Candidates must provide proof of Native American, Alaskan Native, or Native
Hawaiian. At least one page essay also required.

Alumni Scholarship
$1,500 towards the Associate of Occupational Studies in Mechanical Maintenance Engineering
Program. Candidates must successfully complete either the Refrigeration Technologies Program
or the Electro-Mechanical Technologies Program before applying. Additionally, candidates must
provide a brief personal statement describing their commitment to the HVAC/R or Solar industry
as well as how the additional training will aid their future goals.
Fundamentals of solar Scholarship
Up to $1,985. Graduates of the Electro-Mechanical Technologies program prior to the addition
of the Fundamentals of Solar course, are in good standing, and would like to further their
education with the Associate of Occupational Studies in Mechanical Maintenance Engineering
program may apply for this scholarship. The funds may only be used to cover the expenses
related to the Fundamentals of Solar course.
Industry Scholarship
$1,000 towards a diploma program/$2,000 toward a degree program. Candidates must provide
a letter of recommendation from their current employer explaining how the student would benefit
from the training.
Opportunity Scholarship
Funds awarded based on the difference between available financial resources and tuition costs.
Candidates must apply for all applicable state, agency, and federal student aid, demonstrate
financial need, and provide a personal statement essay.
The Refrigeration School (RSI) is a technical school in Phoenix, AZ dedicated to training and
educating students to become skilled technicians in the fields of HVAC/R, Solar, and Electro-
Mechanics. RSI is a VA-approved Military Friendly School, eligible for military tuition assistance
programs and offering military personnel additional support services (for those who qualify).
RSI offers a number of scholarships to eligible students to help them cover education costs.
Financial aid available to those who qualify. RSI reserves the right to discontinue or add
additional scholarships at its discretion. Check the website for the most up-to-date information.
For more information about RSI’s technical training programs or financial aid services, visit
http://www.refrigerationschool.com/.

Resources:
https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/pay-for-college/grantsand-scholarships/the-basics-on-grants-and-scholarships
http://www.fastweb.com/college-scholarships/articles/2963-
12-tips-on-winning-a-scholarship
http://www.military.com/education/money-for-school/tuitionassistance-ta-program-overview.html
http://www.military.com/education/gi-bill/new-post-911-gi-billoverview.html
Accredited School, ACCSC. Licensed by the Arizona
State Board for Private Post Secondary Education. GI Bill
Eligible (check with local campus for specific eligibility). For
more information about our graduation rates, the median
debt of students who complete our programs, and other
important information, please visit our website at: http://www.
refrigerationschool.com/about-rsi/regulatory-information/
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department
of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education
benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S.
government Web site at: http://www.benefits.va.gov/gibill
WWW.REFRIGERATIONSCHOOL.COM
/TheRefrigerationSchool
/rsiaz