LOS ANGELES – Fifty U.S. public high school skilled trades teachers were named as finalists today for the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. A total of $2 million in cash prizes will be awarded in the fall when the field is narrowed down to 25 winners.
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 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was started in 2017 by Harbor Freight Tools owner and founder Eric Smidt. The prize recognizes outstanding instruction in the skilled trades in U.S. public high schools and the valuable work of teachers who inspire students to learn a trade that prepares them for life after graduation. 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.
“We’re excited to increase our investment in the best high school skilled trades teachers across the country at this critical time,” said Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. “We’re honored to celebrate their hard work and recognize the invaluable impact they are making by training the next generation of skilled trades workers.”
As artificial intelligence raises new questions about the future of work, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools last month 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.
With this year’s prize, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools will have awarded more than $12 million to more than 200 U.S. public high school teachers and their skilled trades programs – supporting tens of thousands of students along the way.
The finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges with expertise in career and technical education. Applications are accepted from U.S. public high school teachers in the following skilled trades areas: agricultural mechanics, carpentry, construction, electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, plumbing, transportation mechanics and repair, and welding.
The list of finalists is available here.
The 2026 finalists now advance to a second round of the application. Two additional rounds of judging, each by separate independent panels of reviewers, will narrow the field to 25 winners and, finally, name the five grand prize winners of the group.
The five grand prize winners will each receive $100,000, with $70,000 going to their high school skilled trades program and $30,000 to the skilled trades teacher behind the winning application. The 20 additional winners will each be awarded $75,000, with $50,000 going to their high school skilled trades program and $25,000 to the skilled trades teacher. Winners whose school, district and/or state policy prohibits receipt of the individual portion of the prize award were eligible to apply on behalf of their schools’ skilled trades programs. If they win, the entire share of the prize will be awarded to their programs.
Winners join a nationwide network of outstanding skilled trades teachers who convene throughout the year, including at a four-day, in-person summer convening called “Let’s Build It,” to share best practices and develop new ideas to advance high school skilled trades education.
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, LET’S BUILD IT, HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS PRIZE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE, and THE SMIDT FOUNDATION are registered trademarks owned or licensed by The Smidt Foundation.
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