Congratulations to Madison Deck, the recipient of the Thomas J. Wanner Scholarship. This scholarship, which was established in 2022, honors the retired MCA of Cleveland Executive Director, Thomas J. Wanner. 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 3 decades. He served as a trustee, a chair, and a member of numerous local industry, business, and civic organizations.
Madison is studying Mechanical Engineering at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and is anticipated to graduate in May 2027. This past year was her first year in the student chapter and she took on the role of Vice President.
“My involvement with the MCAA student chapter has allowed me to develop a greater understanding of potential careers I have outside of school. In the future, I would like to help student chapter members with their projects and help to introduce students to the mechanical contracting industry.
When people hear the word “engineering,” they usually think of machines. However, the mechanical contracting industry plays a pivotal role in our everyday lives. The temperature of a building drastically affects people’s comfort, health and productivity.
With the knowledge that I’ve gained from majoring in mechanical engineering, I would like to become a design engineer and project manager for a mechanical contractor and oversee projects to see how designs translate to the real world. Even if the economy worsens, there will always be a demand for heating and cooling in buildings. As concerns for the environment grow due to climate change, I would like to discover new ways of lessening the environmental impact of the industry on the planet.”
MCAA and the John R. Gentille Foundation congratulate Madison 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.