Two Canadians are among 34 recipients of ASHRAE scholarships for the 2018-2019 academic year. This year’s total bestowal of USD $169,000 (CAD $218,000) continues ASHRAE’s 30-year tradition of supporting undergraduate engineering and engineering technology students, with more than USD $2 million disbursed since 1988.

“This year’s scholarship recipients have demonstrated great passion and ingenuity in their desire to lead the next generation of building professionals,” observes Jeff Gatlin, chair of the ASHRAE scholarship trustees.

Also of note is an unprecedented number of women, accounting for more than one third of the recipients. This includes two the five winners of the most lucrative USD $10,000 scholarships, and one of three USD $3,000 bursaries for high school graduates embarking on their engineering studies.

Recipients must be fulltime students in a recognized program, meet a threshold grade point average, undergo an evaluation interview with an officer of the nearest local ASHRAE chapter and submit three letters of recommendation. Candidates are also assessed on financial need, leadership ability and work ethic.

Engineering and engineering technology students in Toronto-based programs were the only winners from outside the United States this year.

Alex Dietrich has been awarded the USD $10,000 (CAD $12,900) Willis H. Carrier Scholarship toward his mechanical engineering studies at Ryerson University. He is the vice president of Ryerson’s ASHRAE chapter and has hands-on experience through engineering internships. Previously, he was a combat engineer with the Canadian Forces, serving two tours of duty in Kandahar, Afghanistan.

Rex Camit has received the USD $5,000 (CAD $6,450) Engineering Technology Scholarship for his studies in mechanical engineering technology/building sciences at Seneca College of Applied Arts and Technology.