Harbor Freight has awarded teachers in 19 states a combined $1.5 million for excellence in teaching trades through the 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence award. One of the winners is Robert Pease, a Fleming County High School welding teacher. Pease is receiving a total of $50,000, $35,000 for Fleming County Schools, and $15,000 for himself. More than 900 educators applied for the prize.
Pease said he is looking forward to seeing the money in action.
“I'm excited to have earned or won the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Teacher program. I was one of 25 selected. I’m very happy and proud of the of the program and students I've served for the last 20 years. I’m excited to see what this money can do in our program. And I'm going to let my seniors select some of the new equipment and supplies that we get,” said Pease.
Matthew Garcia, a District Manager for Harbor Freight in Maysville, said this award serves as a thank-you to an underrepresented group of teachers.
“The mission of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is to increase understanding, support, and investment in skilled trades education in US public schools. In short, we believe that every student across America deserves to be in a great program with an amazing teacher like this one,” Garcia said.
The prize, which is in its eighth year, has distributed over $8.9 million nationwide to trade teachers who stand out. The application process included three rounds of judging, each by an independent panel of experts from education, industry, nonprofits, and philanthropy. This year there were five first round prize winners who received $100,000, and 20 prize winners who will receive $50,000. There were winners from 19 states, including Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee.