MILWAUKEE, WI -- Students at Custer High School unveiled their new HVACR Lab on March 28, 2001, a specially equipped classroom they'll use to develop career skills and to gain hands-on experience in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVACR) industry.

     The new HVACR Lab is the result of a partnership between Milwaukee Public Schools; the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI), a national trade association; the Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC); and other organizations. The partnership renovated an outdated lab using equipment and labor donated by local businesses, organizations and national manufacturers; as well as MPS resources. MPS, MATC and ARI staff collaborated on a curriculum that is based on industry standards and matched with the new equipment.

     Many ARI members donated equipment to the new lab, including: Lennox; Carrier Corp.; The Trane Company; Rheem Manufacturing Co.; York International; Research Products Corp.; Manitowoc; Robinar; and Nordyne, Inc.

     Keith Coursin, an ARI member and president of Desert-Aire, Inc., a Milwaukee-based HVACR manufacturer, said, "the new HVACR Lab brings students, teachers and industry together to create more opportunities for students, and to help meet the demands of industry for new talent."

     Gail Sanders, principal of Custer High School, said, "We developed the HVACR program to provide students with a variety of options for their post high school experience. That may be a four-year or two-year college, an apprenticeship, or a direct transition into the workforce."

     Coursin said college-prep courses, and traditional white-collar careers, don't always appeal to a young man and woman's interests and dreams, or fit their circumstances. "And significant opportunities await students in the building trades and related industries, with companies that must make the great indoors comfortable and safe for us all."

     School officials, Custer High School students, and HVACR Lab sponsors briefly addressed the invited guests before a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Student tour guides then introduced guests to their new HVACR Lab.

     The Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute is the trade association representing manufacturers of more than 90 percent of U.S. produced central air-conditioning and commercial refrigeration equipment.

     This and other news items may be found on the Internet at ARI's World Wide Web site, http://www.ari.org.