Congratulations to Aidan Wolownik, Recipient of the Thomas J. Wanner Memorial Scholarship

April 23, 2025
Pictured: Brian Helm (JRGF President), Aidan Wolownik (Recipient), Dave Sommer (Smith & Oby Company, Service Manager - MCA/MSCA of Cleveland, Inc., President) Todd McKeever (MCA/MSCA of Cleveland, Inc., Executive Director), and Rick Gopffarth (MCAA President).

Congratulations to Aidan Wolownik, the 2024-2025 recipient of the Thomas J. Wanner Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship, which was established in 2022, was created to honor the previous MCA/MSCA of Cleveland, Inc. Executive Director, Thomas J. Wanner. For the past three scholarship presentations, Tom was on stage to help present the scholarship in person, but this year was unable to travel and passed away two days after the awards breakfast. He is sorely missed and fondly remembered by the entire MCAA family.

Tom became the Executive Director of the Mechanical and Plumbing Contractors Association in the Greater Cleveland area in 1986. As the association executive, he focused tirelessly on labor relations, collective bargaining, education and training, legislation, codes and business operations for over three decades. He served as a trustee, a chair and member on numerous local industry, business, and civic organizations.

The current scholarship recipient, Aidan Wolownik, is studying construction management at Pittsburg State University and is anticipated to graduate this May. Aidan has been a member of the student chapter since 2022 and has held the roles of Fundraising Chair and President. Upon graduation, Aidan will join MCAA Member, Lippert Mechanical Service Corporation as an Assistant Project Manager.

“What is most appealing to me about mechanical construction is that we make a building come alive. Essentially, the general contractor builds the skeleton and mechanical contractors go in and put all the organs together. This plays a huge role in our world today. Without mechanical contracting, buildings are nothing but walls.

Likewise, what I’ve gained by being involved with MCAA is hands down the networking. Networking plays a whole role in the mechanical industry, and with networking comes connections. After graduation, I hope to be able to support my chapter by being an alumni advisor.”

MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Aidan on this prestigious scholarship and thank the MCA/MSCA of Cleveland, Inc. for their commitment to supporting students interested in pursuing a career in the mechanical contracting industry.

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