Champions at Work!

5-17-2019 Friday Flash

Harbor Freight Prize Recognizes Outstanding Skilled Trades Teachers

Harbor FreightThe Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence recognizes outstanding skilled trades teachers and programs in public high schools in the United States. Like the skilled trades, the prize application and process require hard work, time, focus and a commitment to excellence.

Harbor Freight defines an excellent program as one led by a teacher:

  • Who clearly loves the subject matter and is both highly knowledgeable and skilled
  • Implementing a curriculum matched to a relevant career pathway and future work choices, one designed to flow seamlessly into next-step options, whether to employment or college
  • Encouraging exploration and experimentation among students in a safe environment
  • Connecting students to new relationships and experiences outside the classroom

In 2019, Harbor Freight will award over $1 million in prizes overall. There will be three first-place prize awards of $100,000, with $70,000 going to the public high-school skilled trades program and $30,000 going to the eligible individual skilled trades teacher or teacher teams behind the winning application. Fifteen second-place winners will each be awarded $50,000, with $35,000 to the public high school program and $15,000 to the eligible teacher or teacher team. Applicants whose school, district or state policy prohibits receipt of the individual portion of prize earnings may still apply.

And there are other winners: your community. By celebrating the best in skilled trades education, Harbor Freight intend to show there are many ways to use your head and hands, and many promising paths to success in life in addition to attending a four-year college.

Application deadline is Monday, June 17, 2019, at 5 p.m. (Pacific time). For full details, visit: https://hftforschoolsprize.org/the-prize

If you have any questions, please contact Harbor Freight at 424-363-1783.


$2,500 #KeepCraftAlive Scholarship Deadline is May 22

#KeepCraftAliveFine Homebuilding Magazine, through a partnership with SkillsUSA, will award a minimum of 12 scholarship awards of $2,500 each. Applicants must be SkillsUSA high school or college/postsecondary students who are continuing their education or certification programs in construction-related fields.

In the spirit of the #KeepCraftAlive movement, applicants should celebrate the value and meaning of true craftsmanship in their trades and plan to continue their educations in community colleges, undergraduate programs or industry certification curricula. Fine Homebuilding will award the scholarships to students in fields such as architectural drafting, carpentry, cabinetmaking, electrical and residential wiring, HVACR, masonry, woodworking and plumbing.

Selections will be based on completion of an application and a 300-word essay showing applicants’ passion for their craft, along with a letter of support from a teacher, administrator, SkillsUSA advisor or educational/professional mentor.
 
To apply, use the form at: https://skillsusa.wufoo.com/forms/keepcraftalive-scholarship/.The deadline for applications is May 22. If you have questions, contact Marcia Strickland at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
 
This is the third year for the scholarship initiative. For more information about #KeepCraftAlive, visit: www.keepcraftalive.org.


Bundle and Save! May Educational Resource Special

Educational resourcesSkillsUSA’s Impact and The Four Pillars will help students learn the keys to building successful teams and become effective leaders. This bundle duo is priced at $10 through May 31, 2019 — a savings of $4.90. Stock No.: BMAY2019

Impact: Experiential Activities to Launch Successful Teams features activities that promote team interaction, trust exercises and problem solving. It covers group facilitation and the use of debriefing questions. Activities incorporate the SkillsUSA Framework of developing personal, workplace and technical skills.

The Four Pillars: Your Personal Leadership Journey is designed for students who are ready for a more in-depth approach to learning leadership.