The Palm Beach Air Conditioning Contractors Association (PBACCA) and the Florida Air Conditioning Apprenticeship Association (FACAA) recognized the 2024 graduates of their apprenticeship program during a banquet at The Beach Club in Lake Worth Beach, FL on August 1, 2024.
FACAA Program Director and past PBACCA President Steve Sparks and PBACCA Committee Members hosted the banquet. More than 50 instructors, employers, friends, families and other industry members attended the event to congratulate the graduates and celebrate with them.
Steve welcomed the guests, thanking them for coming together to celebrate with the graduates. Speaking to the graduates, he recognized that “You are the survivors of the COVID disruption and dealt with unique circumstances during your journey. Congratulations to you and your instructors for navigating the many challenges you faced. Fortunately for the apprenticeship program, the next classes that enrolled are nearing the pre-COVID numbers of students.”
Guest Speaker Florida State Senator Lori Berman, representing District 26, praised the graduates, stating “The fact that you committed to this program four years ago, in the midst of a pandemic, is remarkable. I think people don’t realize what opportunities apprenticeship programs offer, and you are a real testament to how important these programs are. My promise to you is that I will continue to advocate for more funding of apprenticeship programs. My challenge to you is to apply your talents toward making the environment sustainable. I’m very proud of you, know what a sacrifice you have made to complete the program and congratulate you on your accomplishments.”
During her speech Senator Berman mentioned that John Gorrie, a resident physician of Apalachicola, FL and credited as the inventor of mechanical refrigeration, is represented by one of Florida’s two statues in the Washington DC National Statuary Hall Collection*.
Steve Sparks was joined by PBACCA past president David Hutchison, FACAA Office Manager Rhonda Beeler & Rob Mayhew of Tropic Supply in presenting the graduates their certificates along with gifts from Tropic Supply, Arco Supply, Johnstone Supply Ware group, Goodman and Gemaire.
A highlight of the evening was Austin Osberg receiving the 2024 Graduate of the Year award, sponsored by Peter Montana of ACProsite.com. Criteria considered in selecting the recipient include attendance, grades, attitude, participation in classes and mentoring of the other students.
Steve Sparks concluded the evening, reminding the group of the PBACCA Maury Jacob Scholarships that are available to assist all motivated students.
View and download photos from the event HERE, search for 2024 08 PBACCA FACAA graduation.
*One of Florida’s two statues in the Washington DC National Statuary Hall Collection is of John Gorrie, a medical doctor who studied tropical diseases in the early 1800’s. He advocated the cooling of sickrooms to reduce fever and to make patients more comfortable. He cooled rooms with ice in a basin suspended from the ceiling. Cool air, being heavier, flowed down across the patient and through an opening near the floor. Since ice had to be brought by boat from the northern lakes, Gorrie experimented with making artificial ice. On May 6, 1851, Gorrie was granted Patent No. 8080 for a machine to make ice. The original model of this machine and the scientific articles he wrote are at the Smithsonian Institution. Impoverished, Gorrie sought to raise money to manufacture his machine, but the venture failed when his partner died. Humiliated by criticism, financially ruined, and his health broken, Gorrie died in seclusion on June 29, 1855.
