Local Company Funds HVAC Scholarship, Supports Workforce and Health Equity
Quick Refrigeration donated funds to the Arizona Western College Foundation to create the Ricardo Ric Daniel Memorial HVAC Scholarship endowment, honoring the companys longtime general manager who recently died of pancreatic cancer. The endowment aims to lower cost barriers for students in AWCs HVAC programs and strengthen the local workforce that helps protect indoor air quality and heat safety across Yuma County.
Quick Refrigeration announced on December 3 that it has established the Ricardo Ricardo Ric Daniel Memorial HVAC Scholarship endowment with the Arizona Western College Foundation. The endowment honors Ricardo Ric Daniel, the companys longtime general manager who served more than 35 years and recently passed from pancreatic cancer. Company leaders have emphasized their longstanding partnership with Arizona Western College and their intent to expand access to HVAC training.
Arizona Western College currently offers one degree and two certifications in HVAC education. Quick Refrigeration already hosts some classes in its sheet metal shop, creating hands on learning opportunities that connect students to industry equipment and mentors. The new endowment is designed to reduce the cost barrier for students entering the HVAC field, a step that can broaden career access for low income residents, first generation students, and others who face financial obstacles to vocational training.
A ceremonial check presentation took place on December 5 during Quick Refrigerations Christmas and 70th Anniversary Celebration at Quechan Casino Resort. Media were invited to attend. For more information about the scholarship and student support, contact Gladys Anaya, Development Director, Arizona Western College Foundation, at gladys.anaya@azwestern.edu or (928) 344 1720.
Beyond individual career pathways, investment in HVAC education carries public health implications for Yuma County. Technicians trained to install and maintain heating and cooling systems contribute to safer indoor environments, improved energy efficiency, and reduced heat related illness risk for vulnerable residents during the region's extreme heat periods. Expanding a skilled local workforce can also lower repair times, reduce costs for renters and homeowners, and support small businesses that rely on climate control.
The scholarship underscores the role of community college partnerships and employer investment in meeting workforce needs while addressing social equity. By easing tuition burdens and linking classroom learning to workplace experience, the endowment may help open stable, well paying jobs to a broader cross section of the community while honoring a leader who shaped the local trade.
