First Annual Clay Shoot Raises $11,000+ for Technical Scholarships

On April 5, the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association (PPA) held its first-ever Shoot For Scholarships fundraising event. More than 90 participants from dozens of regional energy marketers and HVAC contractors raised more than $11,000, which will help fund the Robert V. Boltz Scholarship Foundation.

The foundation, named after industry-leader Bob Boltz, is a nonprofit foundation established to provide tuition assistance to students seeking to enroll into PPATEC (Pennsylvania Petroleum Association Technical Education Center). Graduates of the 10-week program typically receive multiple employment offers upon graduation.

“The success of this event shows support for the PPATEC HVAC & Energy Professional Program, and for helping new technicians enter the profession,” says Ted Harris, PPA’s Executive Vice President. “It was a great day on the range, but also a clear example of how business leaders work together to improve their own industry.” Harris said the fundraising success of the shoot also paves the way for similar events in the future.

PPATEC is a postsecondary entry-level career training institution licensed by the State Board of Private Licensing Schools and offers leading hands-on technical training solutions for the HVAC and energy industry. In 2022, PPATEC launched its HVAC & Energy Professional Program, a 10-week, hands-on curriculum tailored to provide the skills needed to secure a job in the HVAC and energy industry.

Event sponsors included R.F. Fager Company, Rheem, Velocity Boiler Works, Johnstone Supply The Balsan Group, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US, R. E. Michel Company, Carlin Combustion, Rhoads Energy, Clyde S. Walton, Energy Kinetics, Federated Insurance, and R. W. Beckett Corporation.

To learn more about the Robert V. Boltz Scholarship Foundation, visit https://shootforscholarships.org/. To learn more about PPATEC’s program, visit https://ppatec.com/.