The smartest industry leaders are actively engaged in connecting students with real-world experiences, and one local organization has created an opportunity with the goal of sending students to its most important annual event.

The local chapter of ASHRAE, or the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Conditioning Engineers, is sending three local students on an expenses-paid trip to the organization’s winter conference in Chicago Jan. 20-24, 2018.

Joelon Chinn, a mechanical engineer with Lawrence Engineering Group in Fresno and president of the ASHRAE San Joaquin Chapter, said the effort is a way to get young people engaged in mechanical engineering and recruit younger ASHRAE members.

“ I wish this was an opportunity when I was in school,” Chinn said.

The students were selected through a process based on their involvement with the ASHRAE student chapter at Fresno State and “future promise as an industry ASHRAE professional,” according to a news release.

Fresno State provided a $1,500 scholarship to Ezequiel Fregoso to attend the conference, and ASHRAE’s sponsorship recipients are Karina Meza and Christian Escalera.

“Thank you to all the ASHRAE San Joaquin Chapter members for all the continuous support and dedication for student activities,” Fregoso said in a statement. “A special thank you for those that made this scholarship happen, and allowing me to be part of this trip.”

A number of local firms have also volunteered to assist the students with chaperoned hours at the conference and other efforts. These companies include Lawrence Engineering, Norman-Wright Duckworth, Sigler Fresno, California Boiler, DMG Harlan/Central Valley, RF McDonald and Air Treatment Corp.

ASHRAE has more than 57,000 members in more than 180 chapters across the globe. The San Joaquin Chapter has more than 100 members.

For more information about the local chapter and to help in its efforts, visit sjvashrae.org