THE HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS PRIZE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE WILL BE AWARDED IN 18 STATES
LOS ANGELES — A total of $2 million in cash prizes will be awarded today across the United States to 25 outstanding high school skilled trades teachers and their programs.
The 25 winners of the 2026 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence will be announced at surprise celebrations in 18 states across the country. The winners teach a variety of skilled trades, including construction, carpentry, electrical, welding, automotive, agricultural mechanics, manufacturing, and industrial technology.
The total amount awarded this year increased from $1.5 million to $2 million to mark the 10th anniversary of the prize. More than 550 teachers applied from 49 states.
The prize was created to recognize outstanding public high school skilled trades teachers, a group of educators who are frequently overlooked and underappreciated.
As of today, over $12 million has been awarded to 208 teachers and their programs through the prize. 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 18 states, including: California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Wisconsin, Washington, and Vermont.
A full list of winners is here.
The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was started in 2017 by Eric Smidt, owner and founder of Harbor Freight Tools.
“When we started the prize a decade ago, our goal was to recognize and celebrate the best skilled trades teachers and programs across America,” Smidt said. “Today, we have a nationwide shortage of skilled trades workers and the need for high school classes to prepare students for that work has never been higher. That’s why we’re excited to increase the prize to bring attention to these inspiring teachers and invest even more in their important work.”
As artificial intelligence raises new questions about the future of work, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools earlier this year released findings from a new national poll it commissioned showing overwhelming support for expanding skilled trades classes in U.S. public high schools. The poll was conducted by NORC at the University of Chicago.
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 $2 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: $75,000 each
($50,000 for their school’s skilled trades program and $25,000 for the teacher)
In some cases, due to school, district or state policy, the programs will receive the entire prize winnings.
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
HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS, THE SMIDT FOUNDATION and HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS PRIZE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE are registered trademarks owned or licensed by The Smidt Foundation.
