Student Wins Scholarship to Pursue Mechanical Interest
News From Tulsa Tech By DR. STEVE TIGER
Superintendent
TECHNICAL SKILLS: Teddy Girma, an adult student in Tulsa Tech’s Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning program (HVAC), was recently awarded a scholarship from the Oklahoma Mechanical Inspectors Association.
Courtesy Tulsa Tech
Teddy Girma, an adult student in Tulsa Tech’s Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning program (), is one of Tulsa Tech’s latest scholarship recipients thanks to a grant offered by the Oklahoma Mechanical Inspectors Association ().
“I feel very honored, and extremely blessed to have received this scholarship,” Girma says. “It couldn’t have happened at a better time, so I am truly thankful to the Oklahoma Mechanical Inspectors Association and to my instructor Mr. Hawley for everything they have done to help me.”
Girma was awarded the scholarship in early November, a gift which originated with a suggestion from Treasurer Eric Black.
“Our organization had offered scholarships in the past,” says Blalock. “I thought it was an idea worth re-visiting, so we put some materials together and presented it to the committee, and they voted to approve.”
According to Blalock, feels it is important to support Career Tech students in their pursuit of technical training, and the organization plans on continuing to offer the scholarship in the future.
“Our goal is to offer the scholarship each year,” Blalock says. “Our plan is to provide the scholarship with funds generated from our annual conferences, along with the sales of code books.”
Girma, a native Ethiopian who arrived in the United States at age 13, became an American citizen in 2012 and was a former undergrad at Oral Roberts University before eventually discovering just how much he enjoys working to solve mechanical issues.
“I really enjoy diagnosing and repairing mechanical problems,” Girma says. “It’s almost like a puzzle to me: the process of troubleshooting, finding the exact problem and fixing it. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to study at a university, but there is something that I really enjoy about technical training.”
Tulsa Tech’s program allows students to design and install heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems, troubleshoot electrical problems, and interpret blueprints to customize controls in a residential or commercial setting. Girma hopes to steer his career toward the area of the industry that focuses on the efficiency of systems and utilizes related alternative energy sources.
“Efficiency is probably one of my main areas of interest in ,” he says. “Exploring what changes can be made to a certain system, or to a house, that will improve the overall efficiency of the residence.”
Tulsa Tech is the oldest and largest technology center in Oklahoma’s nationally-acclaimed Career Tech system. The school endeavors to provide affordable, industry-standard technical training in an engaging, innovative learning environment, where students benefit from instructors with years of valuable industry experience.
Students have access to over 90 full-time career majors, all designed to help them upgrade job skills or retrain for a new career in a short amount of time. Tulsa Tech is a highly-diversified institution that rivals the complexities of many colleges and universities and serves as a link between students and the developing economy of the Tulsa metro area.
Strong partnerships with businesses and industry organizations in the region create unique opportunities for student placement, work-based experiences and career-related scholarships.
“I would encourage adult students to explore the many programs available at Tulsa Tech,” says Girma. “It offers great instructors and the latest equipment, and for me it has been a fantastic opportunity to pursue my new career.”
If you’re currently looking for exciting classes for adult and high school students, quality customized corporate training, or are determined to begin a new career, Tulsa Tech invites you to visit today. For more information, please call 918-828-5000 or visit online at tulsatech.edu.
Updated 12-15-2017
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