2024 Prize for Teaching Excellence
Honoring Outstanding U.S. Public High School Skilled Trades Teachers
2023 Grand Prize Winners
2023 Prize Winners
2024 Finalists
Joe Abercrombie
Welding
Edward Bell Career Technical Center – Camp Hill, AL
Jerry Agan
Agricultural Mechanics
Elizabethton High School – Elizabethton, TN
Craig Bal
Agricultural Mechanics
Tanque Verde High School – Tucson, AZ
Allan Ballweg
Industrial Technology
Industrial Technology – Prairie du Sac, WI
Randy Barker
Construction; Carpentry
Evanston High School – Evanston, WY
Alex Bechtler
Manufacturing
Southeast Career Technical Academy – Las Vegas, NV
Andrew Bias
Manufacturing
Folsom High School – Folsom, CA
Katie Bush
Agricultural Mechanics
South Central Calhoun High School – Lake City, IA
Anthony Christian
Manufacturing
Arrowhead Union High School – Hartland, WI
Jonathon Clingerman
Carpentry
Randolph Technical Center – Elkins, WV
Christian Coltharp-Parr
Construction
Southern School of Energy and Sustainability – Durham County, NC
David Darden
Automotive
Cedar Shoals High School – Athens, GA
Mike Degitis
Construction
Cherry Creek Innovation Campus – Centennial, CO
Lisa DiClerico
Construction
Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & Craftsmanship HS – New York, NY
Brian Diehl
Diesel Technology
Dauphin County Technical School – Harrisburg, PA
Quint Dunlap
Automotive
Pinecrest High School – Southern Pines, NC
Jordan Engelhardt
Automotive
Lyons Township High School – LaGrange, IL
Jared Fernandez
Carpentry
East Haven High School – East Haven, CT
Michael Fleming
Automotive
Monte Vista High School – Spring Valley, CA
Cameron Frazier
Agricultural Mechanics
Agricultural Mechanics – Greencastle, IN
Laurie Hilderbrand
Welding
Soquel High School – Soquel, CA
Rob Hunter
Automotive
Flathead High School – Kalispell, MT
Cole Hurley
Construction
Andover Central High School – Andover, KS
Dan Kernion
Manufacturing
Redmond High School – Redmond, OR
John Kim
Manufacturing
Ypsilanti Community High School – Ypsilanti, MI
Robert Lambert
Construction
DJB Technical Academy – Lehigh Acres, FL
Michael Landis
Construction; Carpentry
The Mill National Training Center – Colorado Springs, CO
David Linnenbrink
Industrial Technology
Industrial Technology – Eldridge, IA
Jared Massic
Welding
Maple Mountain High School – Spanish Fork, UT
Trevor Motley
Industrial Technology
Stevensville High School – Stevensville, MT
Donna Newell
Welding
Erie High School – Erie, PA
Chris Nielsen
Automotive
Olympus High School – Holladay, UT
John Park
Agricultural Mechanics
Fairfield High School – Fairfield, MT
Alan Parker
Agricultural Mechanics
Hagerman High School – Hagerman, NM
Robert Pease
Welding
Fleming County High School – Flemingsburg, KY
Christopher Pilling
Construction
Burrillville High School – Burrillville, RI
Andrew Rice
Automotive
J. Everett Light Career Center – Indianapolis, IN
Michael Schaffer
Construction; Carpentry
Hoffman Estates High School – Hoffman Estates, IL
Bryan Silver
Manufacturing
Kalani High School – Honolulu, HI
Chris Small
Automotive
Warren Tech – Lakewood, CO
Brian Sneed
Automotive
Cordova High School – Cordova, TN
John Stearns
Construction
Amity High School – Amity, OR
Austin Thorson
Automotive
Elkhorn Area High School – Elkhorn, WI
Scott Towery
Agricultural Mechanics
Silverton High School – Silverton, OR
John Townsend
Industrial Technology
Union High School – Union, OR
Nick Traini
Industrial Technology
Philomath High School – Philomath, OR
Oakley Van Oss
Construction; Welding
Summit County High School – Breckenridge, CO
Jeff Winn
Construction; Carpentry
South Kitsap High School – Port Orchard, WA
Carol Wright
Agricultural Mechanics
Hugh C. Williams High School – Canton, NY
Aaron Younger
Automotive
Metro Technology Center – Oklahoma City, OK
2024 Final Round Judges
Jason Blackwell
2022 Grand Prize Winner
Bill Culver
2022 Grand Prize Winner
Kristie Jones
2022 Grand Prize Winner
Jared Monroe
2022 Grand Prize Winner
Cory Torppa
2022 Grand Prize Winner
2024 Round 2 Judges
George Arrants
ASE Education Foundation
Jeff Bearinger
2022 Winner
Matthew Blomquist
2022 Winner
Marty Borko
Urban Land Institute
Jessica Bowlin
2021 Winner
Mary Beth Bruggeman
The Mission Continues
Sarah Burtner
City of Seattle
Ben Carpenter
2021 Winner
Gerald Chaleff
LA Police Department (Retired)
Ziven Drake
North Atlantic States Carpenters Training Fund
Kevin Finan
2022 Winner
David Hataj
Edgerton Gear
Blair Jensen
2022 Winner
Kate Lee
South Bend Regional Chamber of Commerce
Stephen Lindridge
2021 Winner
Irma Livadic
Entertainment Industry Foundation
Staci Sievert
2021 Winner
Leif Sorgule
2022 Winner
Kyle Thompson
2020 Winner
Andrice Tucker
2022 Winner
Jim Van Bladel
2022 Winner
Dan Van Boxtel
2022 Winner
Kelly Vedi
New America
Wayne Violet
2020 Winner
Eric Wagaman
2021 Winner
Martha Welborne
HR&A Advisors, Inc.
2024 Round 1 Judges
A special thanks to our colleagues at the Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) for their stewardship of this Round.