CNX Foundation and Partners Fund HVAC Upgrade, Ensuring the Show Goes on for Apollo-Ridge Students
January 20, 2026
By Positive Energy Hub Staff
For 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.
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.
Research supported by ASHRAE and other studies have linked adequate classroom ventilation and thermal comfort to measurable improvements in student performance, including higher standardized test scores and stronger engagement in the classroom.[i][ii]
- Energy Efficiency: The new rooftop units utilize advanced variable-speed technology, allowing them to ramp up or down based on real-time demand rather than operating at full capacity all day.
- Cost Savings: The district expects to see a meaningful reduction in monthly utility bills—savings that can be reinvested back into the classroom.
- Fuel Source: Leveraging clean-burning natural gas, the system ensures reliable heating even during the coldest Western PA winters.
"This isn't just a replacement; it's a modernization," says Richard K. Wuenschell, Vice President of Projects at Huckestein Mechanical Services. "We are installing a system that improves air quality and comfort for the students while lowering the long-term operational costs for the district. It’s a win-win for the facility and taxpayers."
For Dr. Anderson and the Apollo-Ridge community, the support goes beyond just new mechanical equipment.
"We are incredibly grateful for the support of the CNX Foundation and their partners," Dr. Anderson added. "This investment solves a major infrastructure headache for us, but more importantly, it sends a message to our students that their community values them and wants them to succeed in a comfortable, modern environment."
This project exemplifies CNX’s micro-TIL strategy in action. It is Tangible—resulting in physical, permanent equipment that students will use every day. It is Impactful—improving the learning environment and freeing up budget dollars. And above all, it is Local—focused on a specific need where CNX operates.
By the time the curtain rises in the renovated auditorium in 2026, the temperature will be just right—thanks to a community that puts Appalachia First.
[i] Chan, W. R., Heming, A., & Shannon, C. (2022). Managing air quality during the pandemic: How K-12 schools addressed air quality in the second year of COVID-19. Center for Green Schools & ASHRAE.
[ii] Sorensen, L., Hwang, M., & Radia, M. A. (2024). The effects of school building HVAC system conditions on student academic and behavioral outcomes. Annenberg Institute at Brown University.
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