NELLYSFORD, Va. -- The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America has a new reason for high school and post-secondary woodworking programs to become EDUcation members.

Being affiliated with the WCA’s credentialing program adds credibility to the school’s woodshop. Instructors gain access to  training tools including the WCA Woodworking Skill Standards, how-to videos, past SkillsUSA project plans and other online resources. EDU-member instructors also can apply for financial support and scholarships to benefit their students and personal development.

In case those benefits are not compelling enough to justify the annual $250 investment for WCA EDUcation membership, schools can consider the value of the WCA Essentials Benefits Package.

“The Essentials Benefits Package offers useful resources for any woodworking program,” said Patrick Molzahn, treasurer of the WCA and director of the cabinetmaking and millwork program at Madison Area Technical College of Madison, Wisconsin. “From consumables such as screws, glue, and veneer, to access to exclusive online information from Taunton Press and training from Stiles Machinery, the package easily offers more value than the cost of the annual membership.”

Tom Hillstead and Mark Smith are just two instructors of WCA EDUcation schools who appreciate receiving the free and discounted products to benefit their programs.

“Being on a tight budget, every little bit helps,” said Hillstead, cabinetmaking instructor at St. Paul College of St. Paul, Minnesota. “We always receive products that we can use in our shop. The donation packages are a great benefit to our program and more than worth the annual WCA membership cost.”

“The support our program receives from industry suppliers through the WCA has been invaluable,” said Smith, industrial technology teacher at Reed-Cutler High School of Braidwood, Illinois. “We put to use everything that is supplied to enhance the curriculum we are delivering. Though the Reed-Custer school district has been very supportive, my program always needs items that are beyond what the budget can support. The support my program has received over the years from industry has made all the difference.”

The Essentials Benefit Package being offered to WCA EDUcation members for the 2018-19 school year includes:

WCA Gold Sponsor Bessey Tools North America of Cambridge, Ontario. Forty percent discount on all clamps and other products;

CabinetWriter of Easthampton, Massachusetts. Forty percent discount on CabWriter Cabinet Design Software;

Franklin International of Columbus, Ohio. Two gallons of Titebond wood glue;

Quickscrews of Livermore, California. A $50 credit toward the purchase of wood screws and fasteners;

Rockler Woodworking & Hardware of Medina, Minnesoya. Assorted Rockler products;

Stiles University of Grand Rapids, Michigan. One tuition-free registration annually to WCA EDUcation member instructors;

Taunton Press of Newtown, Connecticut. Complimentary digital memberships to FineHomebuilding.com  and FineWoodworking.com; and

Veneer Technologies of Newport, North Carolina. A total of 150 square feet of decorative hardwood veneer.

To learn more about becoming a WCA EDUcation member visit http://woodworkcareer.org

For more information about becoming a WCA Essentials Benefit Package donor, contact Scott Nelson, WCA president, at 402-610-6043 or [email protected].