Middletown, Pa. — Sixteen students have recently graduated the HVAC & Energy Professional Program. On March 21, the PPATEC (Pennsylvania Petroleum Association Technical Education Center) held a graduation ceremony for the students. The event featured spouses, parents, grandparents and employers present to celebrate the student’s achievements and acknowledge their exciting new career choice.
The March 2025 HVAC & Energy Professional Program graduates included Derry Haldeman, Ethan Gonzalez, George Brown, Gilbert Holoma, Juan Valverde-bedon, Nashat Abdelmalak, Paul Weigand, Ranfis Pimentel, Sam Almonor, Sam Pence, Sharan Basnet, Sheldon Thompson, Tabbitha Foultz, Ty Camacho, Tyler Lawrence and Yarik Rhoads.
Five of the graduates were $3,000 recipients of the Robert V. Boltz Scholarship Foundation. Three of the graduates previously served in the United States Armed Forces and were able to utilize their GI Bill benefits to offset tuition.
The majority of the students were currently employed or received job offers prior to graduation. Some of the participating employers include Aero Energy, G.F. Bowman, Frey Lutz, Handyside Inc., Home Climates and Susquehanna Oil & Propane.
PPATEC, an arm of the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association (PPA), offers leading hands-on technical training solutions for the HVAC and energy industry. The PPA is a not-for-profit trade association representing 475+ energy stakeholders. PPATEC is a postsecondary entry-level career training institution licensed by the State Board of Private Licensing Schools and is approved by the VA to accept GI Bill benefits.
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. Since then, graduates of the program have routinely enjoyed multiple employment offers, often graduating on a Friday and going into a new career the following Monday.
According to Don Mumma, PPATEC’s director of Training & Workforce Development, there is a state-wide shortage of more than 2,000 HVAC and energy technicians — jobs with an average annual salary well above $50,000. PPATEC created its entry-level training program to help PPA members fill that pressing need. “We’re glad to play a role in preparing these — and other — young men and women for family-sustaining careers in an in-demand field,” says Mumma.
Candidates have multiple opportunities for financial support. Veterans can use GI Bill benefits to defray the cost of the program. PPATEC also routinely offers scholarships to candidates. In addition, PPA members have an opportunity to sponsor a candidate entering the program. To learn more about PPATEC’s program, visit https://ppatec.com/.
