Next generation of industry workforce represented by 11 outstanding students

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., Oct. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Women in HVACR (WHVACR), a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering women in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration trades, and Carrier Global Corporation, a leader in the HVACR industry, have partnered to provide scholarships to 11 exceptional female students training for technical careers.

Open only to currently enrolled students at a college or trade school with a minimum 3.0 grade average, each scholarship provides $5,000 applied directly to the recipient's educational expenses. The scholarships were presented at WHVACR's recent annual conference in Indianapolis. Six scholarships were funded by WHVACR and five were supported by Carrier for a total of $55,000 in educational support.

"Our industry faces a tremendous challenge in meeting the demand for well trained and qualified workforce," said Women in HVACR President Jane Sidebottom. "By providing these scholarships we hope to motivate more women to consider the incredible opportunities in skilled trades, with diverse paths from entry-level technician roles to ultimate business ownership."

The 2026 scholarship winners are:

• Dalila Aguirre, a student at Tulsa Tech
• Jenna Alred, a student at Northwestern Technological Institute
• Brittany Caffey, a student at the College of Southern Nevada
• Latoya Howard, a student at Southern Regional Technical College
• Kendra Kalstad, a student at Northwest Technical College
• Anah Kincheloe, a student at Lamar Institute of Technology
• Krrisha Patel, a student at the University of Pennsylvania
• Aayana Roy, a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
• Jaqua Seay, a student at the New York City College of Technology
• Tyra Talley, a student at the University of Arkansas' Pulaski Technical College
• Alexa Wilson, a student at Southern Technical College

"This year's winners reflect a wide range of experiences and ambitions, from following in their families' footsteps and transitioning into new careers to aspiring to own businesses," Sidebottom said. "They are passionate about expanding opportunities for women in traditionally male-dominated fields, especially in HVACR, and recognize the valuable perspectives women bring to problem-solving. They also hope to challenge conventional industry boundaries and serve as leaders and mentors for the next generation of women in the trades."

For more information about Women in HVACR, visit womeninhvacr.org.

About Women in HVACR
Since 2002, Women in HVACR has worked to increase the number of women in the Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigerant (HVACR) industry and empower women to succeed by providing members with a variety of opportunities to network and develop a professional environment through education and mentorship. The 1,200-member nonprofit organization holds a variety of regional and national events each year and provides scholarship opportunities for women who pursue careers within the HVACR industry, including those who seek engineering and business degrees or a trade school education. For more information about Women in HVACR, visit womeninhvacr.org.

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SOURCE Women in HVACR