SkillsUSA Instructors Recognized as Winners for the 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence

Media Contacts for SkillsUSA:
Jane Short or Karen Kitzel, 703-777-8810
Email: jshort@skillsusa.org or kkitzel@skillsusa.org

Leesburg, Va., Oct. 17, 2024 — SkillsUSA instructors are among 25 outstanding teachers from 19 states who are winners for the 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. In total, $1.5 million in cash prizes were awarded to the teachers and their programs.

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.”

One SkillsUSA instructor won a $100,000 Grand Prize ($70,000 for their school’s skilled trades program and $30,000 for the teacher):

• Washington — Jeff Win, Carpentry and Construction, South Kitsap High School

Twenty teachers won $50,000 each, including these SkillsUSA instructors:

• California — Andrew Bias, Manufacturing, Folsom High School
• Colorado — Oakley Van Oss, Construction and Welding, Summit High School
• Indiana — Andrew Rice, Automotive, J. Everett Light Career Center
• Kentucky — Robert Pease, Welding, Fleming County High School
• Michigan — John Kim, Manufacturing, Ypsilanti Community High School
• Montana — Rob Hunter, Automotive, Flathead High School
• North Carolina — Quint Dunlap, Automotive, Pinecrest High School
• Rhode Island — Christopher Pilling, Construction, Burrillville High School
• Tennessee — Brian Sneed, Automotive, Cordova High School
• Utah — Jared Massic, Welding, Maple Mountain High School
• Utah — Chris Nielsen, Automotive, Olympus High School

In most cases, the $50,000 winners received $35,000 for their school’s skilled trades program and $15,000 for themselves. In some cases, due to school, district or state policy, the school’s skilled trades programs will receive the entire prize winnings. This was the case for Mr. Pilling, whose school was awarded the $50,000. See the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools winners list.

“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.”

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.

About SkillsUSA

SkillsUSA is the #1 workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. SkillsUSA represents more than 413,000 career and technical education students and teachers in middle schools, high schools and college/postsecondary institutions nationwide. Those members represent 130 in-demand occupational areas, from 3-D animation to welding. A vital solution to the skills gap, SkillsUSA has served nearly 15 million members since its founding in 1965. Learn more at skillsusa.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn. 

About Harbor Freight Tools for Schools

Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is a program of The Smidt Foundation, established by Harbor Freight Tools owner and founder Eric Smidt, to advance excellent skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. With a deep respect for the dignity of these fields and for the intelligence and creativity of people who work with their hands, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools aims to drive a greater understanding of and investment in skilled trades education, believing that access to quality skilled trades education gives high school students pathways to graduation, opportunity, good jobs and a workforce our country needs. Harbor Freight Tools is a major supporter of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program. For more information, visit: HFTforschools.org.