A total of $1.5 million in cash prizes has been awarded across the United States to 25 outstanding high school skilled trades teachers and their programs. 

The teachers were surprised Tuesday, Oct. 8 with the news that they are winners of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. The winners teach a variety of skilled trades, including construction, carpentry, welding, automotive, agricultural mechanics, advanced manufacturing, and industrial technology.

The prize, now in its eighth year, was created to recognize excellence among high school skilled trades teachers, a group of educators who are frequently overlooked and underappreciated. Since 2017, more than $8.9 million has been awarded to over 150 teachers and their programs. The mission of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is to increase understanding, support and investment in skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. 

This year there are winners from 19 states, including:  California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin. A full list of winners is here.

“We are thrilled to honor these 25 dedicated teachers who are making such an important difference in the lives of their students every day,” said Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. “They have earned this prize because they are highly knowledgeable about the skilled trades, have a deep belief in the potential of their students, and have built programs that prepare students for a multitude of opportunities after high school.”

The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was started in 2017 by Eric Smidt, owner and founder of Harbor Freight Tools. 

“Our future will be built by the students in today’s skilled trades classrooms,” Smidt said. “We appreciate the outstanding teachers who are preparing the next generation of skilled trades professionals across the United States.” 

This year there were more than 900 applications for the prize. The application process included three rounds of judging, each by an independent panel of experts from education, industry, nonprofits, and philanthropy. 

The 25 winners and their programs will receive a total of $1.5 million in cash prizes as follows:

Five Grand Prize Winners
Amount: $100,000 each
($70,000 for their school’s skilled trades program and $30,000 for the teacher)

Twenty Prize Winners
Amount: $50,000 each
($35,000 for their school’s skilled trades program and $15,000 for the teacher)