The Natural Refrigeration Foundation (NRF), a nonprofit education, research and training association that is part of the U.S.-based International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration (IIAR), is seeking applications from incoming junior and senior undergraduate engineering students for its NRF Founder’s Scholarship awards.
The scholarship is awarded each year to students exhibiting “exceptional character and pursuing an engineering or related technical degree leading to a career in the refrigeration field,” says IIAR. It is open to undergraduate students attending a four-year accredited college or university.
Scholarship funds are applicable to tuition only and are paid directly to the recipient’s college or university. The scholarship also provides additional funds for registration, travel, lodging and meals associated with attending IIAR’s Annual Natural Refrigeration Conference & Expo during the spring of their junior year.
Scholarship requirements and a link to the online application form can be found here. Application deadline is May 31, 2024. The awards will be announced on June 30, 2024.
For junior-year students, the scholarship consists of $4,000 to be paid in two equal installments of $2,000. Juniors must attend the IIAR conference and maintain the minimum grade-point average (GPA) in order to trigger a disbursement increase in their senior year.
For senior-year students, the scholarship includes $9,000 to be paid in two equal installments of $4,500 for recipients who attended IIAR conference during the spring of their junior year. For those who did not attend the conference, the amount is $4,000 to be paid in two equal installments of $2,000
Addressing climate change
To qualify for the scholarship, students must be enrolled in an engineering field such as mechanical, electrical, civil, environmental, industrial, manufacturing, agricultural and chemical, or computer science, automation and mechatronics. “Applicants must be pursuing a degree in one of these fields and have a proven interest in applying their skills in the commercial and industrial refrigeration industry using natural refrigerants,” says IIAR.
“Engineers working in the industrial refrigeration industry have the opportunity to help address the urgent issue of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by applying environmentally friendly natural refrigerants in energy efficient refrigeration and heat pump systems,” adds IIAR.
In addition, students must have completed 45 semester credit hours (or equivalent) or 90 quarter credits at the time of application, and must hold a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale (3.75 on a 5.0 scale) towards an engineering degree. Two letters of recommendation are also required.
Known since its founding in 1971 as the International Institute of Ammonia Refrigeration, the IIAR is now “doing business as” the International Institute of All-Natural Refrigeration, reflecting its expanded focus on all natural refrigerants, including CO2 (R744) and hydrocarbons as well as ammonia (R717), in both industrial and commercial refrigeration.
In 2022, IIAR implemented a similar change to the name of its nonprofit education, research and training foundation from the Ammonia Refrigeration Foundation (ARF) to the Natural Refrigeration Foundation. The NRF “promotes the climate-positive, safe, reliable, and efficient use of the most earth-friendly natural refrigerants through research and scholarships to develop industry talent, academic alliances, and outreach.”
“Engineers working in the industrial refrigeration industry have the opportunity to help address the urgent issue of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by applying environmentally friendly natural refrigerants in energy efficient refrigeration and heat pump systems.”
– IIAR
