Harbor Freight Tools for Schools earmarks record amount for high school skilled trades
Posted by Larry Adams

The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program has earmarked $1.5 million in funds to award high school skilled trades teachers and programs.

This amount brings the total amount of monies awarded to more than $6 million in the last six years. The money through the years has gone to more than 100 U.S. public high school teachers and their programs, and thousands of students benefitted as a result. 

Eric Smidt, founder of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools and owner and founder of Harbor Freight Tools released a letter announcing the awards program.
“We know that high school skilled trades teachers play a vital role in preparing our country’s future skilled trades workforce. Their classes open doors to great careers and meaningful work. 

"The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence has brought much-deserved attention and support to these incredible teachers, students, and skilled trades programs. The prize started as an experiment in 2017, awarding a total of $500,000 to 12 skilled trades teachers and their programs. With so many qualified candidates applying, over the last few years, we more than doubled the annual award amount to $1,250,000. 

"Over the next decade, the U.S. will be making the largest investment ever in roadways, bridges, ports, and other infrastructure. We also need to make an unprecedented investment in the next generation of tradespeople who will do this important work. 

“So this year, we’ve decided to increase the prize again and will award $1.5 million to 25 outstanding public high school skilled trades teachers and their programs across the country.” If you know an excellent public high school skilled trades teacher in your community, please encourage them to apply for the 2023 prize at hftforschoolsprize.org

Applications are open now through May 5, 2023. 

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Larry Adams | Editor

Larry Adams is a Chicago-based writer and editor who writes about how things get done. A former wire service and community newspaper reporter, Larry is an award-winning writer with more than three decades of experience. In addition to writing about woodworking, he has covered science, metrology, metalworking, industrial design, quality control, imaging, Swiss and micromanufacturing . He was previously a Tabbie Award winner for his coverage of nano-based coatings technology for the automotive industry. Larry volunteers for the historic preservation group, the Kalo Foundation/Ianelli Studios, and the science-based group, Chicago Council on Science and Technology (C2ST).