April 2, 2025
On April 1, the Pennsylvania Petroleum Association (PPA) held its third annual Shoot For Scholarships fundraising event. 146 participants from dozens of companies raised more than $27,000 to help fund the Robert V. Boltz Scholarship Foundation. The event proceeds this year were the most ever raised for the foundation.
The foundation, named after industry-leader Bob Boltz, is a nonprofit foundation established to provide tuition assistance to students seeking to enroll into PPATEC (Pennsylvania Petroleum Association Technical Education Center). Graduates of the 10-week program typically receive multiple employment offers upon graduation. The program also enrolls employer-sponsored students with limited field experience as a way to provide formalized industry training and certifications. Both non-employed and employed students are eligible to receive the scholarship.
PPA is a not-for-profit trade association representing 475+ energy stakeholders. “The success of this event shows the strong collective support of a diverse group of PPA stakeholders who want to support the next generation of individuals entering the energy industry,” says Ted Harris, PPA’s Executive Vice President. “It was a great day on the range, but also a clear example of how business leaders work together to improve their own industry.”
Harris said the fundraising success of the shoot also paves the way for similar events in the future.
PPATEC is a postsecondary entry-level career training institution licensed by the State Board of Private Licensing Schools and offers leading hands-on technical training solutions for the HVAC and energy industry. In 2022, PPATEC launched its HVAC & Energy Professional Program, a 10-week, hands-on curriculum tailored to provide the skills needed to secure a job in the HVAC and energy industry.
2025 marquee event sponsors included Lucknow-Highspire Terminals, Johnstone Supply The Balsan Group, Clyde S. Walton, Mitsubishi Electric Trane HVAC US, Countryside Fuel, R. E. Michel Company, Home Climates, Carlin Combustion, Rhoads Energy, and HB Home Service Team.
To learn more about the Robert V. Boltz Scholarship Foundation, visit https://shootforscholarships.org/. To learn more about PPATEC, visit https://ppatec.com/.
