CNX Foundation and Partners Fund HVAC Upgrade, Ensuring the Show Goes on for Apollo-Ridge Students

By Positive Energy Hub StaffFor the students and staff at Apollo-Ridge School District, the auditorium and band room are more than just classrooms—they’re the stage where memorable moments and the school’s creativity comes to life. Keeping these large, high-ceilinged spaces comfortable, however, has become increasingly difficult. Apollo-Ridge’s existing HVAC system, showing its age, has been failing to maintain consistent temperatures, leading to student and staff discomfort, reduced classroom productivity, and time and resources lost managing preventable temperature issues.”When our infrastructure struggles, it distracts from the incredible work our students are doing on stage and in the band room,” says Dr. Courtney Anderson, Superintendent of Apollo-Ridge School District. “We needed a solution that would ensure a safe, comfortable environment for our learning community, but the costs for such a specialized upgrade are significant.”Recognizing this critical need, the CNX Foundation and a coalition of regional partners stepped up to bridge the gap. A clear example of CNX’s micro-TIL (Tangible, Impactful, Local) hyper-local support, the Foundation mobilized its network to fund the nearly half-million-dollar project, which is set to get underway and be completed in the summer of 2026.The funding effort was a true community collaboration.From critical HVAC upgrades to supporting Apollo-Ridge teachers with shirts, supplies, and lunch—shown above—CNX’s tangible, impactful, local commitment to the district is ongoing.This year’s CNX Foundation Charity Golf Outing raised over $52,000, and the recent CNX Foundation Clay Shoot ​ contributed another $60,000 toward the cause. These events were backed by generous sponsors like B&L, Deep Well Services, Evolution Well Services, M&A, Penn Mechanical, Precision Drilling, ROC and many others. The CNX Foundation is covering the remaining balance, ensuring that the school district can move forward without diverting funds from educational programs.This project is being spearheaded by Huckestein Mechanical Services, a regional leader in high-efficiency HVAC design, to deliver a solution focused on one priority: students. When Edward Tworek, Vice President of Service at Huckestein Mechanical Services, was asked to engage in the project, he didn’t hesitate. “Projects like this are about more than installing new equipment,” Tworek said. “It’s about providing the best environment possible for our developing youth.” The upgrade will replace the aging climate control infrastructure in the Auditorium and Band Room with modern, high-efficiency rooftop units designed to provide steady temperatures, improved ventilation, and cleaner indoor air. ​​ Read More → The post CNX Foundation and Partners Fund HVAC Upgrade, Ensuring the Show Goes on for Apollo-Ridge Students appeared first on CNX.