Heating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration, and Welding students to benefit

AUSTIN, TX (June 9, 2009) – The Austin Community College Foundation announced today that the Grainger Foundation, based on a recommendation by local Grainger branch managers, has donated $15,000 for scholarships for students in the Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Technology and Welding Technology Programs. Six scholarships of $2,500 each will be awarded in the 2009-10 academic year.

“Grainger is proud to be a part of this community where our employees and customers live and work,” says Brandon Ulry, Grainger branch manager. “Grainger is committed to ensuring the future of our local workforce by supporting technical education and providing students with much-needed funds to achieve their educational goals.”

“During these challenging economic times, scholarships become even more important as individuals come to Austin Community College (ACC) to broaden their skills or learn new ones.” says Cassandra Wiggins, ACC Foundation board member. “Grainger’s investment will enable ACC students to focus more on their education as they complete their degree and, in turn, create a better prepared workforce for our region.

Grainger is a local facilities maintenance supplier for business and institutions and has a long history of supporting the communities in which its employees and customers live and work. Grainger has been part of the Texas community for more than 75 years and currently operates three locations in the Austin metro area. In addition to this contribution, Grainger provides support to other local non-profits throughout Texas as well as supporting disaster preparedness and technical education in communities across the country.

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About the Austin Community College District (austincc.edu):
ACC, Central Texas’ community college, is the primary gateway to higher education and career training for residents in eight counties. The college provides access to affordable, quality education. ACC enrolls more than 35,700 credit students, offering university transfer courses, two-year associate degrees, certificates, Early College Start, access programs that get students “college-ready,” and continuing education. At ACC you can “Start here. Get there.”

The ACC Foundation
The ACC Foundation is led by a 26 member voluntary board of directors comprised of business and community leaders. The Foundation will award over 280 scholarships totaling $400,000 in the upcoming year.