Reseda HVAC Student Wins Third Place ‘Be the Change’ Scholarship

From a young age, Rizen Appling has lived by a simple but powerful principle: use your gifts to help others. So, whether volunteering with his church to feed hungry families, serving through music, or pursuing a career in Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC), he’s always sought ways to make a difference in his community.

That spirit of service recently earned him a third-place winner of the 2025 Be The Change Scholarship, a $3,000 award from UEI College that honors his leadership and commitment to positive change. Rizen is an HVAC student at UEI College in Reseda.

“I felt very blessed,” Rizen said of the news that UEI awarded him this scholarship. “It was one of those moments where I felt like God was looking out for me. It reminded me that the school really pays attention to what students are doing and the good they’re trying to bring into the world.”

Created in 2020, UEI’s Be The Change Scholarship is a program that recognizes students turning compassion into action. It honors UEI students who embody the values of compassion, perseverance, and social responsibility. To enter, students submit an essay describing a time that they identified a need or challenge in the community and took action to address it.

Rizen’s scholarship submission focused on Music for All Generations, a community program he started that brought student musicians into senior centers and assisted living facilities for free live performances.

The initiative, which ran for several years, was a heartfelt bridge between generations, Rizen said, showing how compassion, creativity, and leadership can transform lives.

“I’ve been doing music my whole life,” he said. “Ever since junior high, I’ve been playing guitar, performing in bands, and producing music. It’s always been a big part of me.”

Turning Music into Service

After graduating from high school in 2006, Rizen began noticing something missing in his L.A. community.

While young musicians had school programs to showcase their talents, few opportunities existed where they could share their music with a broader public — especially older adults who may not have access or transportation to live performances.

In an effort to fill this gap, Rizen launched Music for All Generations. Its mission was to connect high school musicians with local senior centers and assisted living facilities where they would offer free concerts.

“It was really about giving back,” he said. “It made the residents feel appreciated and gave students the chance to see how powerful their music could be.”

At the first program’s performance, a student string quartet played a familiar folk tune as a group of seniors — many in wheelchairs — gathered to listen. Rizen recalls faces lighting up, feet tapping, and residents singing along.

The student musicians, he added, felt the gratification of using their talent for something larger than a grade in a classroom. And although the program is currently in hiatus, Rizen plans to revive it in the future as time and resources allow.

“I was thrilled to learn that the Be The Change scholarship committee selected Rizen for an award. He represents the very best of what it means to be a UEI College student,” said Crystal Ramirez, Executive Director at UEI Reseda. “His dedication to serving others, his commitment to excellence, and his drive to keep growing embody the spirit of Be the Change. We are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and excited to see the impact he will continue to make in his community and beyond.”

Expanding His Horizons

While music remains a defining part of Rizen’s identity, his curiosity and drive to grow have led him to explore many paths. Throughout the last several years, he’s worked in real estate, performed and produced in the Hollywood studio scene, and participated in numerous outreach projects throughout his church.

“My catalog is very diverse,” he said. “I like having different skills and different ways to make a positive impact.”

This mindset led him to pursue HVAC training, an industry that appealed to both his business sense and his desire for stability.

“HVAC is something where I can build a company one day, help people, and even be that handyman for family and friends. It’s a trade that’s always going to be needed.”

When researching HVAC programs, Rizen said UEI College initially stood out to him for its professional presence online, especially its student stories.

“The videos I saw showed students really doing to work — hands-on learning, step-by-step teaching, and success stories that felt genuine,” he said.

Eventually, he enrolled at UEI College in Reseda, where he found support and guidance from his teachers. Specifically, instructors Camerino Islas and Dante Witcher really made an impact on his learning.

“They’re very detailed and patient in how they teach,” he said. “They show you the right way to do things and share real experiences from working in the field.”

Rizen completed his HVAC training earlier this year and officially graduated in April.

“The whole experience was great,” he said. “It gave me confidence in something new and opened doors I didn’t even know were possible.”

Being the Change in the Future

When Rizen learned he’d received the Be the Change Scholarship, he says the moment was “shocking, but in the best way.”

The $3,000 scholarship provides valuable financial support as Rizen continues building his career, but it also serves as a deeper affirmation of his values.

“It feels like my hard work and the things I do from the heart are being recognized,” he said. “It means a lot.”

Today, Rizen is exploring HVAC job opportunities while continuing his work in music production. His long-term goal is to combine his creative and technical skills into a life of both service and success. He’d also like to own his own HVAC company one day.

But whether he’s composing music, helping a client find comfort in their home, or giving back to his community, Rizen wants to continue writing a life story of versatility, resilience, and heart.

“I’ve always wanted to be the kind of person who does more than one thing,” he said. “For me, it’s all about growth — and finding ways to help others along the way.”

When asked what advice he’d give to others considering UEI College, Rizen is quick to offer his two cents.

“It’s a great school that really teaches you the right way,” he said. “You get hands-on experience, and the instructors genuinely care. If you want to learn a trade that can give you pride in your work, UEI is the place to start.”