NRF Founders Engineering Scholarship 2027

The NRF Founders’ Engineering Scholarship supports outstanding undergraduate engineering students who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, professional potential and an interest in pursuing a career related to natural refrigeration.

In addition to financial support, scholarship recipients receive opportunities for professional development, industry engagement and participation in IIAR’s Annual Natural Refrigeration Conference & Expo.

The scholarship is intended to help introduce students to the natural refrigeration industry, connect them with industry professionals and support their continued academic and professional growth.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Interview Process
• Application Documents
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineJanuary 31, 2027
• Study LevelUndergraduate
• SponsorNatural Refrigeration Foundation
• Course to studyEngineering
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

Junior Year Recipients

• Junior-year recipients are eligible to receive $4,000, paid in two equal installments of $2,000.
• Recipients will also be invited to attend IIAR’s Annual Natural Refrigeration Conference & Expo during the spring of their junior year. The scholarship provides additional support for eligible registration, travel, lodging and meal expenses associated with attending the conference.
• Recipients must attend the conference and continue to meet the scholarship eligibility requirements to qualify for the increased senior-year award.

Senior Year Recipients

• Recipients who attended IIAR’s Annual Natural Refrigeration Conference & Expo during the spring of their junior year and continue to meet the scholarship eligibility requirements are eligible to receive $9,000, paid in two equal installments of $4,500.
• Recipients who did not attend the conference during the spring of their junior year are eligible to receive $4,000, paid in two equal installments of $2,000, provided they continue to meet the scholarship eligibility requirements.

Requirements

Applicants must:

• Be enrolled as an undergraduate student entering their junior or senior year during the 2027–2028 academic year.
• Attend an accredited four-year college or university.
• Be pursuing a degree in engineering.
• Demonstrate an interest in applying their education and skills within the natural refrigeration, commercial refrigeration, industrial refrigeration or related cooling and heat-pump industries.
• Have completed at least 45 semester credit hours, 90 quarter credit hours or the equivalent at the time of application.
• Hold a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale or 3.75 on a 5.0 scale.
• Submit a complete application and all required supporting materials by January 31, 2027.

Applicants who do not meet the eligibility requirements or submit all required materials by the deadline may not be considered.

Selection Process

Eligible applications will be reviewed by the NRF Scholarship Review Committee.

Applicants will be evaluated based on the following areas:

• Academic achievement and engagement
• Quality and strength of the letters of recommendation
• Personal essays and written communication
• Work, research, volunteer and leadership experience
• Demonstrated interest in natural refrigeration, refrigeration, HVACR or related industries
• Professional potential and alignment with the objectives of the NRF Scholarship Program

The review committee may also consider additional information provided in the application that demonstrates the applicant’s qualifications, achievements and potential contributions to the industry.

All scholarship decisions are made at the discretion of the Natural Refrigeration Foundation.

 

Application Documents

Applicants must submit the following through the online application:

• A completed NRF Scholarship application
• Academic and contact information
• Information about academic achievements, work experience, leadership and extracurricular activities
• Responses to the required personal essay questions
• A current college or university transcript
• Two letters of recommendation submitted through the online recommendation process

Applicants should allow sufficient time for their recommenders to complete and submit their recommendations before the application deadline.

Application Deadline: January 31, 2027

Incomplete applications or materials received after the deadline may not be considered.

Application Deadline

January 31, 2027

How To Apply

For more information, kindly visit the NRF webpage.