Leesburg, Va., Dec. 12, 2018 — A dozen high schools from across the nation will each receive grants of up to $5,000 from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, strengthening their local SkillsUSA chapters in their work to support skilled trades students.
The grants support SkillsUSA chapters established within the past three years that serve students enrolled in construction trades, transportation or manufacturing clusters. Funds will be used to support SkillsUSA chapter development including educational materials, contest uniforms, travel and registration for technical competitions, training, guest speakers, career fairs and local industry visits. The activities will vary by school, but all are designed to promote individual student growth and help graduates be better prepared for work or higher education with essential career skills.
Funds for these chapter-building grants were part of a larger $115,000 donation to SkillsUSA by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, which will fund chapter-building grants and scholarships for students traveling to the SkillsUSA Championships to compete in skilled trades competitions on behalf of their states.
Applicants were evaluated on their proposals for effective enhancement of their SkillsUSA program, including community partnerships and sustainability. Schools with a student population of at least 75 percent who qualify for free or reduced-price lunches were encouraged to apply.
The 12 grant winners receiving up to $5,000, based on their submitted budget requests, include the following SkillsUSA schools:
- Anderson County Junior/Senior High School (Kan.)
- Bradley Tech High School (Wis.)
- Brooke High School (W.Va.)
- Career Technical Education Center (Ore.)
- Center for Advanced Technology at Mohonas (N.Y)
- Franklin High School (Calif.)
- Gentry Conversion High School Charter School (Ark.)
- Minico High School (Idaho)
- Morgan County Career and Tech Center (Tenn.)
- Northeast Arkansas Career and Technical Center (Ark.)
- Roane-Jackson Technical Center (W.Va.)
- Sault Area Career Center (Mich.)
“SkillsUSA is thrilled to partner with Harbor Freight Tools for Schools on this program, which supports the growth of SkillsUSA chapters across the nation,” said SkillsUSA executive director Timothy Lawrence. “Partnerships like these expand opportunities for our members and strengthen relationships between education and industry.”
Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, added, “The outstanding students, advisors and mentors of the SkillsUSA community demonstrate the great promise of the trades as a course of study and career. Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is proud to support excellence in high school skilled trades education through this partnership with SkillsUSA.”
About SkillsUSA
SkillsUSA is a vital solution to the growing U.S. skills gap. This nonprofit partnership of students, instructors and industry ensures America has the skilled workforce it needs to stay competitive. Founded in 1965 and endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education, the association serves more than 360,000 students and instructors each year in middle schools, high schools and colleges. This diverse talent pipeline covers 130 trade, technical and skilled service occupations, the majority STEM-related. More than 600 corporations, trade associations, businesses and labor unions actively support SkillsUSA at the national level. SkillsUSA programs are integrated into career and technical education through a framework of personal, workplace and technical skills grounded in academics. Local, state and national championships, designed and judged by industry, set relevant standards for career and technical education and provide needed recognition to its students. The SkillsUSA Championships, held annually in Louisville, Ky., is the national event. SkillsUSA also offers technical skill assessments and other workplace credentials. For more information, go to: www.SkillsUSA.org.
About Harbor Freight Tools for Schools
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, a program of The Smidt Foundation, is dedicated to the advancement of skilled trades education in America. With a deep respect for the dignity of these fields and for the intelligence and creativity of people who work with their hands, this program was created by Harbor Freight Tools Founder Eric Smidt to foster and shine a light on excellence in skilled trades education in public high schools. 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 for Schools aims to stimulate greater understanding, support and investment by public entities and others in skilled trades education. Harbor Freight Tools is a major supporter of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program.
Contacts:
Jane Short or Karen Kitzel
SkillsUSA
703-777-8810
jshort@skillsusa.org or kkitzel@skillsusa.org
Karen Denne
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools
818-836-5272
