There was very strong media turnout for the 25 winners of the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. TV cameras and news reporters showed up to cover the celebrations for these outstanding high school skilled trades teachers in Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming. A full list of winners is here.
Below are some of our favorite news stories from this prize season.
Michael Driscoll – Wisconsin
‘I’m blown away’: Bay View teacher wins $100K grant for industrial technology program, 58 News Milwaukee, Sept 30, 2025
“Most of my kids come into my classroom having never held a drill,” Driscoll said. “The kids are capable of incredible things, and I just really want people to notice that and see that.”
Terrell Taylor – Indiana
Local Trades Teacher Wins Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize, Lakeshore Public Media, Oct 2, 2025
Taylor said, “We’re not just building projects – we’re building people, and that’s what makes this learning environment so powerful.”
Sheila Stalberger – Minnesota
Eden Prairie teacher surprised with $50,000 national prize, KARE 11, Sept 30, 2025
“I just love it when we’re in the shop and we’re getting to the end of a nine-week term and the students have this beautifully built cabinet that is sitting there, and they have this expression that is like, ‘Yes, I built this and it looks amazing and it works,’” Stalberger said.
Shelby Fishman – California
Atwater High School teacher surprised with $50,000 award, ABC-30 Action News, Sept 30, 2025
“I run my shop budget under $1,000 a year, so if you can imagine this is going to be just extraordinary,” Fishman said.
Joshua Marmolejo – Texas
Clint High School and teacher win national prize for skilled trades excellence, KFOX14, Oct 13, 2025
Marmolejo said, “I have great kids, I have students that have gone and done things that I never did, you know, and it’s been really a blessing to be able to be a mentor to a lot of people. I’m really proud to be able to receive this award, you know. More importantly, I think hopefully I can use some of this money to better my program.”
Clayton Christensen – Wyoming
Sheridan welding teacher surprised with $50,000 check for program, KTVQ, Sept 30, 2025
“Having students come back and say thank you for what you taught me and the life skills that you taught me throughout our time in high school and then being able to apply the skills that they’ve learned is really what keeps me going,” Christensen said.
