Scholarships & Programs
Investing in the Next Generation
From scholarships and factory tours to classroom mentoring and equipment donations — SP-TACCA is committed to building a strong pipeline of skilled HVAC professionals across the South Plains.
School Partnerships
Partnering with South Plains Schools
SP-TACCA works directly with local high school HVAC programs to bring industry expertise into the classroom and prepare students for careers in the trade.
LISD
Lubbock Independent School District
SP-TACCA partners with the LISD HVAC program to bring real-world industry experience into the classroom. Our member contractors serve as Subject Matter Experts, visit campuses for mock interviews, and donate equipment to keep students learning on current technology.
2026 Mock Interviews — Byron Martin ATC
SP-TACCA member contractors visited the Byron Martin ATC campus to conduct mock interviews with LISD HVAC students — helping them build confidence, practice professional communication, and prepare for real-world hiring in the trade.
LCISD
Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District
Through our partnership with LCISD, SP-TACCA supports the next generation of HVAC technicians with hands-on mentoring, career readiness workshops, and equipment donations that give students access to the tools they'll use in the field.
May 2026 — Tool Donations at LCISD
Royce Rudd of Rudd Heating and Air Conditioning — a former LCISD graduate himself — donated a set of FieldPiece Digital Gauges. Jose Lopez, Branch Manager at Trane Supply, donated hoses and equipment. SP-TACCA donated an additional set of gauges and a DeWalt backpack of tools.
Representing SP-TACCA: Jim Hamlin, Treasurer · Ron Chambless, Secretary · Jodi Hamlin, Associate Member
How We Engage
Programs That Make a Difference
Subject Matter Expert (SME) Program
Experienced SP-TACCA member contractors visit LISD and LCISD classrooms as Subject Matter Experts — sharing real-world knowledge, answering student questions, and bridging the gap between the classroom and the jobsite. SMEs help students understand what a career in HVAC truly looks like.
Resume Building & Mock Interviews
SP-TACCA members work directly with HVAC students to build professional resumes and conduct mock interviews — preparing graduates to confidently enter the workforce. Students leave with polished materials and the interview skills to land their first job in the trade.
Equipment Donations
SP-TACCA coordinates equipment donations from member contractors and industry partners to LISD and LCISD HVAC programs. Donated equipment gives students hands-on experience with the same systems they'll service in the field — making training more relevant and effective.
Trane 2026 Spring Factory Tour
In spring 2026, SP-TACCA organized a factory tour at Trane's manufacturing facility for HVAC students from the South Plains. Students got an inside look at how the equipment they'll work with every day is designed, engineered, and built — an experience that brings the trade to life.
SME Program in Action
May 2026 — Byron Martin ATC, LISD
MEP Services & Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning — May 2026 SME Visit
Saul Banda, VP of Estimating, MEP Services, and Joe Benitez, Senior Service Technician / Outside Salesman, Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning, visited the Byron Martin ATC HVAC program as Subject Matter Experts — sharing their real-world experience with students and giving them a firsthand look at what a career in the HVAC trade looks like.
Industry Experience
1st Annual Trane Spring Factory Tour
In April 2026, SP-TACCA organized the first-ever Trane Spring Factory Tour in Tyler, TX for Byron Martin ATC HVAC students. Students toured the Trane Technologies facility, got hands-on time with equipment, and stopped at Soulman's Bar-B-Que in Van, Texas on the way home — a full day they won't forget.
April 2026 — Trane Technologies, Tyler, TX
SP-TACCA organized the inaugural Trane Spring Factory Tour, taking Byron Martin ATC HVAC students to the Trane Technologies facility in Tyler, TX. Students were taken on a tour of the testing facilities, labs, and the manufacturing facility — getting an inside look at how some of the industry's most trusted equipment is built and tested. While there, they enjoyed some East Texas BBQ at Soulman's Bar-B-Que in Van, Texas — a full day of learning and memories that showed students exactly what a career in HVAC can look like.
The group was accompanied by Byron Martin ATC instructors Ricky Martinez and Jarrod Ramsey, and escorted by Jodi Hamlin, SP-TACCA Associate Member and Trane Technologies Senior Account Manager.
Industry Outreach
2026 Job Shadowing Day
SP-TACCA member contractors partnered with Byron Martin ATC to host the 2026 Job Shadowing Day — giving HVAC students a real-world look at life on the job alongside working professionals in the trade.
Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning — 2026 Job Shadowing Day
SP-TACCA, in partnership with Byron Martin ATC, participated in the 2026 Job Shadowing Day. Byron Martin ATC HVAC students spent the day alongside working professionals at Bruce Thornton Air Conditioning — getting hands-on exposure to real service calls, shop operations, and what a career in the HVAC trade truly looks like from day one.
Scholarship
Colby Galland Memorial Scholarship
The Colby Galland Memorial Scholarship was established by Jack Galland, Colby's father, and Marvin White, owner of White Service Company (WSC), to honor the memory of Colby Galland. Colby was a young service technician for WSC when he passed away unexpectedly in an auto accident.
Colby lives on through this investment in the future of the HVAC trade across the South Plains. Each spring, the scholarship is awarded to graduating HVAC students who have demonstrated dedication to the trade and a commitment to entering the industry upon graduation.
Recipients receive a comprehensive set of professional HVAC tools — removing a real financial barrier and sending graduates into the workforce ready to work from day one.
Awarded Every Spring
Presented annually at the end of the spring semester to graduating HVAC students.
Tools for the Trade
Recipients receive a professional set of HVAC tools to launch their career — not just a check, but a real head start.
$32,500+ Awarded
SP-TACCA has invested over $32,500 in tool scholarships for South Plains HVAC graduates.
A Meaningful Legacy
Established by Jack Galland and Marvin White of White Service Company to honor Colby — a young WSC technician whose life was cut short in an auto accident.
What Recipients Receive
A Full Set of Professional HVAC Tools
Rather than a traditional cash scholarship, the Colby Galland Memorial Scholarship provides recipients with the professional tools they'll need on the job — ensuring every graduate enters the workforce fully equipped.
- Manifold gauge sets
- Refrigerant recovery equipment
- Digital multimeters
- Vacuum pumps
- Pipe cutters & flaring tools
- Leak detectors
- Thermometers & psychrometers
- Hand tool sets
Eligibility
Who Can Apply
The scholarship is open to students at South Plains area high schools who meet the following criteria:
- Currently enrolled in an HVAC program at a South Plains area high school
- Graduating student in the year of the award
- Planning to enter the HVAC industry upon graduation
- In good academic standing with their program
- Demonstrated commitment to the trade
Applications Open Each Spring
Contact SP-TACCA or speak with your HVAC program instructor to learn about the current year's application process and deadline.
Contact Us to Apply2026 Scholarship Presentation
Colby Galland Memorial Scholarship — 2026
Held at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center (ATC), the 2026 scholarship presentation brought together industry sponsors, SP-TACCA members, and graduating HVAC students for an unforgettable event.
Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center — May 2026
The 2026 Colby Galland Memorial Scholarship was presented at the Byron Martin ATC to deserving graduating HVAC students. Each recipient received a full set of professional tools — Milwaukee tool bags, DeWalt backpacks, and Klein tool bags — made possible by the generous support of our sponsors.
2026 Sponsors: LR · Reece · Robert Madden (Est. 1979) · Rheem · Texas Air Systems · Goodman · Johnstone Supply · Norman & Wright · Baker · AirCo Inc. · Trane · Ferguson · DeWalt · Equipment Share
SP-TACCA President Bridges Bankston extending a job offer to a graduating student at the 2026 Career Day
Community Outreach
2026 Career Day at Byron Martin ATC
SP-TACCA represented the HVAC trade at the 2026 Career Day held at the Byron Martin Advanced Technology Center. Our booth showcased the Colby Galland Memorial Scholarship, Heat the Town community program, and the many career opportunities available in the HVAC industry across the South Plains.
Events like Career Day are a key part of how SP-TACCA connects with the next generation — introducing students to a rewarding trade and letting them know our association is invested in their future.
"Equipping the next generation of South Plains HVAC professionals."
Fundraising Events
2026 SP-TACCA Fundraisers
SP-TACCA's annual fundraising events support the Colby Galland Memorial Scholarship and community programs that serve South Plains HVAC students and families in need. Mark your calendar and join us.
19th Annual Clay Shoot
Colby Galland Memorial
Sporting Clay Tournament
Date
Saturday, June 20, 2026
Location
Lubbock Shooting Complex
1475 County Rd 1, Lubbock, TX 79423
Schedule
Registration: 9:00 AM
Shotgun Start: 10:00 AM
Lunch & Awards: 1:00 PM
Contact
806-777-6612Support a meaningful cause while gaining valuable visibility for your business by sponsoring the 19th Annual Colby Galland Memorial Sporting Clay Shoot. This event brings together industry professionals, community leaders, and partners for a day of camaraderie, competition, and giving back. Proceeds directly fund the Colby Galland Memorial Scholarship.
Annual Golf Tournament
Ken Woods Memorial
Golf Tournament
Date
Saturday, August 15, 2026
The Ken Woods Memorial Golf Tournament honors the legacy of a valued member of the South Plains HVAC community. This annual event brings together industry professionals and supporters for a day on the course, raising funds that support SP-TACCA's scholarship and community service programs.
Contact Jim Hamlin, Treasurer & Golf Tournament Chairman — 806-548-0262
Support Our Programs
SP-TACCA member contractors and sponsors make these programs possible. If you'd like to contribute, volunteer as an SME, or get involved, we'd love to hear from you.