The Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Contractors Association, Tampa Bay (RACCA) recognized the 2024 Journeyman graduates at a ceremony held April 17. 2024 at the Pinellas Technical College Clearwater, FL campus. Over a hundred and twenty people were in attendance.
RACCA Apprenticeship Program Administrator Keane Bismark kicked off the evening by welcoming the graduates, students, instructors, RACCA board members, and guests. “Not only have the students overcome the challenges of attending class while working full-time, but their families have sacrificed as well. Their employers have juggled schedules and supported the students in other ways to make their journeys possible. Thank you to Tropic Supply for providing $50 gift cards to the 4th and 5th year graduates, Victor Distributing for donating $50 gift cards to the apprentices of the year and RACCA for giving those with perfect attendance $25 Outback Restaurant gift cards.”
Completers of the fifth-year commercial refrigeration class, apprentices of the year and those with perfect attendance were also recognized. Twelve Journeymen graduated from the 4-year Heating and Air Conditioning Installer/Servicer program and there were six completers of the 5-year Refrigeration Mechanic program this year.
“These numbers reflect the impact that COVID had on our recruiting four years ago,” stated RACCA Apprenticeship Program Administrator Keane Bismark. “Our second and third year classes next year total fifty-four students so we can see that our instructors will be pretty busy for the foreseeable future.”
The instructors were also recognized, many of whom had gone through the program, went on to have successful careers and are now sharing their knowledge and helping others along.
Instructors: 1st year: Keane Bismarck, 2nd year: Tim Parker and J.C. Jannarone, 3rd year: Mr. Pagano and Jason Saylor, 4th year: Loren Wunderle and William Carbley and 5th year: Wayne Carothers.
A highlight of the evening was the presentation of the 2024 ACprosite Journeyman Program Graduate Award to Ronald Fritz III. The Journeyman Program Award recognizes the outstanding graduate of the 4-year apprenticeship program, based on the highest grade point average, attendance record, number of Apprentice of the Month Awards received and the best OJT timecard record over the four years.
4th year 2024 HVAC Journeyman graduates are Dallas Gunning, Charles Fletcher, Jacinto Rivera, Eric Thullen, Jared Sanchez, Aleksander Lazic, Chase Dilport, Alexander Johnson, Christopher Lueck, Shawn Stoffel, Michael Carpenter & Jonathan Wasser.
5th year 2024 Refrigeration Mechanic Journeyman graduates are Xingjing Huang, Kyle Wade, William Townsend, Zachary Sirois, Scott Davis and Ronald Fritz III.
Find out more about the RACCA Apprenticeship Program and how to participate by visiting https://racca-florida.org.
View and download all the photos from the graduation here: https://acprosite.com/photos. Search for 2024 04 RACCA Graduation.
