The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence is a national award program that honors exceptional public high school skilled trades teachers across the United States. Administered by Harbor Freight Tools for Schools, a program of The Smidt Foundation, the initiative awards a total of $1.5 million annually to recognize outstanding teaching practices, impactful programs, and dedication to student success in the skilled trades.
The prize supports educators who teach in a variety of skilled trades fields, including agricultural mechanics, carpentry, construction, electrical, HVAC, manufacturing, plumbing, transportation mechanics, welding, and related areas. Teachers must apply individually and must be currently employed full-time in a U.S. public high school. The program does not permit group or team applications.
The prize is highly competitive, with 25 total winners selected each year. Five grand prize winners receive $100,000 each, and twenty additional winners receive $50,000 each. For all prize recipients, a portion of the funds is designated for the teacher’s skilled trades program and the remaining portion is awarded directly to the teacher for personal use.
Applicants are judged on multiple criteria, including demonstrated teaching success, future plans for innovation, quality and depth of application responses, use of data and results to show effectiveness, storytelling ability, completion of learning modules, and overall passion, leadership, and creativity. The application process requires active engagement and thoughtful reflection on teaching practices and program outcomes.
Applications for the 2025 cycle open on March 4 and close on May 2, 2025. Finalists will be announced on June 10, 2025, and winners will be revealed in fall 2025. Interested teachers are encouraged to register and log in through the program's website to begin the application process and access the necessary learning modules.
For questions or additional guidance, applicants are directed to the official website’s FAQ and rules sections or to email the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools team directly.
