A Celebration of Hard Work, Community, and New Beginnings
What does it take to help someone prepare for a new career? At HVAC Technical Academy, it takes more than instructors and classrooms. It takes businesses willing to help, families offering encouragement, and students who are ready to put in the work.
During our commencement celebration in Sanford, Florida, Danny takes a moment to recognize the businesses and community partners who help make these opportunities possible. He also introduces Vernon Marshall, someone he first met through CareerSource who has worked hard to prepare for the next chapter of his life.
But the celebration doesn’t stop there!
In our second video, we hear from Vernon, Chloe, other students, family members, and CareerSource representatives. There are thank-yous, a few laughs, and stories about the challenges and accomplishments that brought everyone to this day.
Chloe shares what it was like entering a male-dominated trade at just 20 years old and how having another woman in the classroom helped her feel more comfortable. Vernon takes time to thank the instructors and others who supported him. We also hear from a proud mother, fellow students, and community partners who recognize just how much these graduates have accomplished.
Throughout the celebration, Danny reminds everyone that HVAC training is about more than learning to work on equipment. It’s also about building confidence, developing teamwork, and preparing to work with customers and fellow technicians.
These two videos share different moments from the same celebration. The first recognizes the people and organizations who help open doors. The second celebrates the students who walked through those doors and are now preparing for what comes next.
For our graduates, this isn’t just the end of their training. It’s the beginning of new opportunities, new relationships, and a future they are working to build for themselves and their families.
Danny - discusses partnerships and introduces some attendees – video
Danny – discusses partnerships and introduces some attendees - Transcript
00:00:04
And Rashad did mention a little bit about Career Source, Career Source, Tropical Air of Central Florida, Career Source, a 3D Visual Academy, True Tech, Recidio, and ARS Community Partners. We wouldn’t be here without all of their support.
And to me, that’s what makes it even far more reaching into our community is that other companies and other organizations believe in us, and that means a lot.
Thank you again Katie for being part of us and the old man.
00:00:43
It is a communitydriven. We owe a great deal of respect and appreciation from Career Source. They’ve helped a lot of people come through here, and it means a lot, as well as all of the other organizations and for people who’ve just come in as well.
So speaking of Career Source, I would like to introduce the next person who I met there a couple of months ago at Career Source, and he knew and I knew, at least I think he knew, that this is where he wanted to do.
00:01:23
This is where he wanted to be for himself, for his family. And he’s made a lot of progress and has become somebody who I know is ready.
Just like most all of y’all, all of y’all are ready.
So, let’s take a look at this person’s videos.
Chloe Hillard
Sorry, she has chosen not to do a training video.
Students Share Their Experiences - video
Students Share Their Experiences - Transcript
00:00:02
Just in case you have not noticed, we get y’all involved in just about everything that you’re going to be looking at or working with for the first year. From thermostats, low voltage wiring to new system swaps to compressor replacements to coil cleaning to recovery. They’re doing it all. That is huge. And not many people can say that.
When you get out there and you’re going to see a lot of individuals don’t know nearly as much as you do. Throw that in with your customer service and that clarity, choice, confidence, and competence. The world is going to definitely be yours.
So, Vernon, please come up here.
00:00:39
Thank you everybody. I ain’t planning to speak. I just want to thank Andrew, Rob, Chris, Dane, Mr. Lane, thank Career Source. I just want to thank everybody. That’s pretty much.
00:01:41
Family’s important and that’s one thing that I definitely want to make sure that everybody knows. Family comes first, safety comes first and HVAC and this life of course goes along with it.
But we do it all. They’ve done it all. We’ve only had a few minor boooos. I know that the next person who’s coming up had multiple boo boos, pretty severe, and you probably saw some of the PowerPoint presentations of the pain in that person’s eyes and the fear of having to go back out and do some work.
This person of course is Chloe. The thing about Chloe is a little difficult in the very beginning, a challenge, but the amount of change in attitude, perspective, commitment, I believe is very palatable. You feel it even and I know that Vernon mentioned Elaine.
Elaine is definitely one of the reasons why we’re here. She’s unsung hero in the back end. Even Elaine made mention about how much Chloe has changed for the better. Not that she was bad to begin with, but you can see that people are serious.
And I know that you’re serious. You’re going to be successful in this. This I know without a doubt.
00:02:57
So, come on up here and say a couple of words, please.
Hi, everybody. How’s everybody doing tonight?
Good.
Yes. Amazing. I love that.
I want to thank Rob. I want to thank Chris. I want to thank Danny. And also Andrew for giving us this opportunity to learn and to grow.
And obviously the people have been in my class with me. They know I did move out at 16. So I’ve been, I’m 20 now. I’ve been trucking and I’ve been trucking. And I’ve been looking for an opportunity to put myself on the right path and to support myself.
And due to all of you guys in here, I can do that now.
And I also want to thank Jackie because I thought it was going to be a boys club in here. And I was a little bit nervous about coming into trade school only because I know that it’s a male-dominated field, but when I saw Jackie, it kind of lowered my guard a little bit and it made me not as nervous to be in class.
But yeah, thank you everybody so much.
00:04:05
Chloe did mention it’s a male-dominated industry which is an advantage to Jquelyn and to Khloe. And the reason is, and we’ve been through this how many times, opens the door, it’s Mrs. Smith, a little old lady or whatever. She opens the door and she sees Jacqueline or Chloe and she automatically feels comfortable.
Automatically you will have an advantage. You do have an advantage because of that as opposed to somebody who looks like say Robert or Andrew. Oh boy, they’re scruffy and mean looking. You’re not.
The advantage that you have is huge. Keep that smile, keep that perspective, keep that commitment going and the world is going to be great.
We had a young lady by the name of Amanda who was here and she became a service technician and ultimately couple of years later she went to Las Vegas to work. Las Vegas needs air conditioning big time.
Doing extremely well from al