Evaporative Cooler Service

Clyde Perry, GWCC

When I first came to GateWay Community College in the Fall of 1990, I wanted to build good public relations for the Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration (HVAC&R) program. With the help of area businesses on our advisory committee and the Foundation for Senior Living, we developed a service learning project, Evaporative Cooler Service, that helps both Valley senior citizens and our students.

Seniors helped by the project have been extremely grateful. I have seen some seniors who have gone 2-3 summers without a working cooler.

One Saturday every spring, students from our program pair up with area technicians to repair evaporative coolers for seniors who have been identified by the Foundation for Senior Living. The technicians provide mentoring and guidance for students doing the repairs. The Foundation provides the parts and materials needed, makes all repair appointments, and provides liability insurance in case of property damage. Cathy Theodore from the Foundation also serves as dispatcher, taking calls and getting parts out to crews who need them.

Usually about 12 two-person crews repair 2-3 units each that day. Seniors helped by the project have been extremely grateful. I have seen some seniors who have gone 2-3 summers without a working cooler. Students feel great for doing the work and are further affected when they see such conditions. They want to do more for the elderly.

Besides community service, students receive valuable educational experience from the project. I do not teach a section on evaporative cooling in class because students learn better doing the service project. The field experience, customer relations, and mentoring experience are far more valuable than a classroom presentation on the subject.

The Evaporative Cooler Service project this year takes place on Saturday, March 25. This year we hope to service more seniors with the help of two area high schools: Metro Tech and East Valley Vocational. We meet at GWCC at 7 a.m. and work on site from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.. Volunteers from the District -- with experience in evaporative coolers or a truck to run parts -- are also welcome. Anyone interested should call me at 392-5228.

Maricopa Center for Learning & Instruction (MCLI)
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