New Scholarship Program from Daikin and the Astros Foundation Will Award $100,000 to College-Bound Seniors

"Daikin's Most Valuable STEAM Scholarship" applications officially open; kickstarts community programming from Daikin Park

HOUSTON, March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Step up to the plate, Houston area seniors! The Astros Foundation and Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (Daikin) have announced an inaugural scholarship program, Daikin's Most Valuable STEAM Scholarship, that will award ten Houston-area high school seniors each with a $10,000 scholarship. Applications open today, March 3, and close April 14, 2025.

Daikin's Most Valuable STEAM Scholarship program will be hosted annually to recognize the role well-rounded curriculum plays in fostering innovative, creative and critical thinking skills. The scholarships will be awarded to ten graduating seniors determined by their excellence in STEAM education and their personal experiences both inside and outside of the classroom.

"The Astros Foundation is excited to team up with Daikin to invest in Houston's future leaders as they pursue higher education," said Emelda Douglas, Senior Vice President of Community Affairs for the Houston Astros and Executive Director of the Astros Foundation. "By supporting these talented students, we are empowering them to focus their passion and creativity to positively impact our community and beyond."

Building an All-Star Team of Bright Young Minds

STEAM curriculum goes beyond traditional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) programming by incorporating the arts. This includes fine arts, language arts, manual arts such as architecture and landscape design, physical arts, and liberal arts. Through STEAM learning, students are encouraged to think outside of the playing field and problem solve by using creativity and technical expertise cultivated through their high school and college careers.

Key requirements for applicants pursuing the scholarship include:

• A 300-word essay on the importance of STEAM education and how it has contributed to personal growth, academic achievements and career aspirations.
• Graduating high school seniors in the class of 2025 that will be attending a higher education institution upon graduation and provide proof of acceptance.
• Permanent address in one of the following Texas counties: Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Montgomery, San Jacinto, Walker, Waller and Wharton.
• Complete application by deadline along with two adult letters of recommendation.

As a global leader in HVAC&R, Daikin understands the importance of driving innovation to develop sustainable technologies, and it is through initiatives like this where students can harness the skills needed to become the innovative leaders of their generation. In addition to developing career-driven skill sets through hands-on learning, STEAM students can also strengthen their soft skills like collaboration and communication that will only help further their professional acumen and make them MVPs.

"At Daikin, we believe in the unlimited potential of people and know student scholarships are crucial for fostering the next generation of innovative thinkers," said Kristi Pittman, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, Daikin. "We are proud to play a role in supporting our local youth through this inaugural scholarship program and look forward to seeing them score home runs in college and beyond."

Those meeting the requirements and interested in applying for Daikin's Most Valuable STEAM Scholarship can learn more at: https://www.mlb.com/astros/community/foundation/steam-scholarship 

About Daikin

Daikin Industries, Ltd. (DIL) is a Fortune 1,000 company with more than 98,162 employees worldwide and a leading indoor comfort solutions provider. Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (DNA) is a subsidiary of DIL, providing Daikin, Goodman, Amana® and Quietflex brand products. DNA and its affiliates manufacture heating and cooling systems for residential, commercial and industrial use that are sold via independent HVAC contractors. DNA engineering and manufacturing is located at Daikin Texas Technology Park near Houston, TX.  For additional information, visit www.daikincomfort.com

Amana® is a registered trademark of Maytag Corporation or its related companies and is used under license. All rights reserved.

About Daikin Park

On January 1, 2025, the Houston Astros and Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc. (Daikin) entered into a 15-year, exclusive naming-rights partnership that brands the home of the Astros as Daikin Park. The agreement runs through the 2039 season, and includes official naming rights, partnership benefits, and giving back to the Greater Houston community through educational programming and youth sports development in underserved communities. 

Overall, Daikin has invested more than $1 billion in the Houston area, including more than $500 million in building Daikin Texas Technology Park. Also, in August 2024, Daikin launched an initiative with the City of Houston to equip low-to-moderate income homes with advanced air conditioning and heating solutions, providing more comfort and energy efficiency for homeowners. Daikin is always looking for new ways to support their community and to create innovative technologies, with an unwavering commitment to making sustainable and responsible choices. For more information on Daikin Park, visit https://daikincomfort.com/about-daikin/daikin-park.

About Houston Astros and Astros Foundation

The Houston Astros are an American professional baseball team based in Houston, Texas. The Astros compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) West Division. Established as the Houston Colt .45s, the Astros entered the National League as an expansion team in 1962. The current name, Houston Astros, reflecting Houston's role as the host of the Johnson Space Center and space exploration, was adopted three years later, when they moved into the Astrodome. The Astros moved to their current home ballpark in downtown Houston in 2000. The Astros have had great success on the diamond, having won two World Series (2017 and 2022), five league pennants, and advanced to a record-setting seven-straight American League Championship Series, winning four of the last seven American League pennants.

A tenant of the organization is to give back to the greater Houston community, and that is done through the Astros Foundation, the official 501(c)(3) team charity of the Houston Astros. The foundation seeks to harness the passion of baseball fans to support youth baseball and softball programs, the recognition and honor of our nation's military, childhood cancer awareness, domestic violence awareness and efforts to reduce homelessness. The cornerstone initiatives include the Community Leaders program, the Astros Youth Academy and the Astros RBI (Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities) Program. For more information on the Astros Foundation, please visit www.astros.com/foundation.

Media Contact:
Bradlee Borgfeldt
713-627-2223
[email protected] 

SOURCE Daikin Comfort Technologies North America, Inc