A carpentry and construction teacher at an Alabama high school was “dumbfounded” to learn on Tuesday that he had earned his program a $100,000 grand prize from Harbor Freight Tools’ “Tools for Schools” program.

School and company officials broke the happy news to Scott Larson, a teacher at the North Baldwin Center for Technology, with an announcement ceremony between classes. A strategically placed school bus concealed the preparations from Larson’s view until he walked past following a group of students.

“How are you?” asked Sarah Brown, a district manager for Harbor Freight. “I don’t know yet,” said Larson, realizing he was the center of attention. He later added that he “thought I’d get an email” if there was news about his application to the program.

Brown said that the 2023 grant program had received 1,009 applications from all 50 states. On Tuesday, 25 skilled trades teachers nationwide were being awarded $1.5 million in prizes, she said. Larson was one of five recipients of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.

Brown said the program was designed to address a shortage of workers by spotlighting and supporting the efforts of teachers. “There are significant infrastructure projects happening across our country while at the same time we are facing a severe shortage of skilled trade workers,” she said.

The North Baldwin Center for Technology is a part of the Baldwin County School System’s Career Technical Education Program. Its programs include “Welding, Agri-Science, Building Construction, HVAC, Automotive, Graphic Design, Cosmetology and Health Sciences.” It also offers college credits in dual enrollment programs with Coastal Alabama Community College.

Larson said he was in his 14th year of teaching after working as a carpenter and remodeling contractor. It has been a rewarding experience, he said, particularly when he sees former students making their way in the world. He likes it when he can “run into somebody in the Tractor Supply parking lot and they’re making twice as much money as I’m making and doing really well,” he said.

“It’s basically just teaching them how to use tools, how to build stuff, but mostly it’s really about teaching them the skills they need to succeed,” he said of his daily work. “You know, the problem-solving skills, the employability skills, being creative, communication skills, team working skills. So when they do finally get out there in the work force, they succeed.”

“Most of the time when we talk to industry people they say, ‘Send me somebody that’s a good worker and knows how to use a measuring tape, and we’ll do the rest,’” Larson said. “We try to give them a few more skills than that when we send them out there working. Mostly what they’re missing out there is those employability skills, you know, people ready to go to work, show up with their tools, a good attitude, who can work as part of a team, show up on time every day. Apparently it’s hard to find.”

After grabbing a slice of cake, Larson quickly was back at work, directing students as they got down to business. A range projects were in progress, from a partially built boat to some chairs that students were making for themselves. Larson said students also have been building chicken coops and dockside boxes that will store life vests provided by the Baldwin County Parks Department at public boat launches.

Larson said there wasn’t a single big-ticket item he’d like to see the grant money spent on. In the past, he said, he’s won small grants of a couple thousand dollars or less, and those had helped him add equipment such as a computer-controlled router and a laser engraver. He might spend some of this money on a rigging trainer, to help students learn how to safely move heavy materials, or a plumbing trainer. “Everybody’s screaming for help, plumbers included,” he said.

It would also help buy lumber and other goods, he said. “If we need materials we don’t have to scrounge around for money,” he said.

Adam Sealy, the principal of the school, praised Larson for pursuing the grants on his own time after school hours. “It’s going to go a long way in our building construction program,” he said of the Harbor Freight award.