2017 Prize for Teaching Excellence
Honoring Outstanding U.S. Public High School Skilled Trades Teachers
$500,000 in Prizes to Help Build Industrial Strength Classrooms for the 21st Century
“The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence is the pinnacle of prizes for skilled trades teachers and its future growth will be a welcome boost to engaging industrial and technical education teachers in both material support and instructional best practices.”-Matt Erbach, Precision Manufacturing Teacher, Streamwood High School, IL
2017 Grand Prize Winners
Brendan Malone
2017 Grand Prize Winner
Marine Systems Technology
Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, NY
Jonathan Schwartz
2017 Grand Prize Winner
2017 Grand Prize Winner
Construction, Manufacturing
Colfax High School, CA
2017 Prize Winners
2017 Finalists
Thomas Aubin
Welding
CEWW BOCES, NY
Bobby Bard
Auto Technology
Franklin County Career & Technical Center, PA
Jim Barnett
Welding
South Garland High School, TX
Stephen Beattie
Wood
West Milford Township High School, NJ
Ryan Beckley
Automotive
East Syracuse Minoa Central High School, NY
Adam Bourne
Electric & Carpentry
The NET Charter School, LA
Louis Bramante
Automotive
Vineland Senior High School, NJ
Jeff Canterbury
Electrical
Washington County Career Center, OH
Michael Castleberry
Automotive
Locklin Technical High School, FL
Jeff Cesari
Outdoor Power Equipment
Bucks County Technical High School, PA
Brian Collier and Tristan Kumor
Construction
Ridgewood High School, IL
Scott Combs
Welding
Eastern Monroe Career Center, NY
Robin Coyne
Auto Technology
Monterey High School, CA
Travis Crate
Welding
Venango Technology Center, PA
Wes Crawford and Josh Gary
Welding, Woods, Agriscience
Sutherlin High School, OR
Brad Dement
Welding/Metal
Delaware Career Center, OH
Jerry Eaton
Manufacturing Technology
Meeks Professional Technical High School, OR
Matt Erbach
Precision Manufacturing
Streamwood High School, IL
Michael Fleming
Auto Technology
Monte Vista High School, CA
Kory Fontes
Agriculture Mechanics
Nipomo High School, CA
Ken Gandy, Ed Hensley, and Gary Pommier
Auto, Welding
Olathe Advanced Technical Center, KS
Daniel Gersbach and Daniel Bradley
Manufacturing, Welding
Finger Lakes Technical and Career Center, NY
Lukas Gill
Construction, Woodworking
Holland Central Schools, NY
Robert Harris
Automotive
Jordan Vocational High School, GA
RJ Horacek, Galen Wilson, and Krysten Renihan
Aviation Technology
Westfield Technical Academy, MA
Brian Kurszewski
Machine Tool & Welding
New London High School, WI
Andrew Lamer
Welding
Mingus Union High School, AZ
Brian Marvin
Construction, Welding, Automotive, and Aviation
Northwestern Alaska Career and Technical Center, AK
Joel Massarello
Automotive
Oakland Schools Technical Campus Northwest, MI
Jeff Merker
Building Trades Carpentry and Framing
Sheldon High School, CA
Anthony Migliorini
Automotive
Northview High School, IN
Don Murrell
Welding
Garden City High School, KS
Timothy Regan and Mark Levy
Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Masonry
Bergen County Technical Schools, NJ
Bryan Ringsted
Tech Theatre
Campbell Union High School, CA
Amancio Rodriguez
Metal Fabrication and Machining
Jonny G. Economedes High School, TX
Tom Rose
Construction
Bagdad High School, AZ
Steve Schertz
Automotive Technology
South Elgin High School, IL
Ronald Skaggs and Justin Martzke
Green Construction
Norte Vista High School, CA
Brian Sneed
Automotive
Cordova High School, TN
Gregory Stephanos
Plumbing
Leominster High School Center for Technical Education, MA
George Wertz
Carpentry
Deming High School, NM
Rick Burton
Auto Collision and Repair
Greene County Career Center, OH
Joseph Wolfe
Electrical Engineering
Thomas Edison High School, VA
Keith Yow
Furniture and Cabinet Making
Cedar Ridge High School, NC
2017 Final Round Judges
Dan Belcher
Director of Workforce Development
National Center for Construction Education and Research; Build Your Future
Dr. Sarah Heath
Assistant Provost for Career and Technical Education
Colorado Community College System
