UCHS Teacher Named Winner of National Prize for Teaching Excellence

BLAIRSVILLE, GA— Randy Zimmerman, an automotive collision repair teacher from Blairsville, Georgia, has been named a winner of the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence, winning $50,000 for his school’s program.

Zimmerman, who teaches at Union County High School, is one of 25 public high school skilled trades teachers across the United States who were surprised with the news that they had won. A total of $1.5 million in cash prizes were awarded today.

“For me, teaching isn’t just about developing technical skills; it’s about showing students the value of persistence, craftsmanship, and pride in their work,” Zimmerman wrote in his prize application.

Zimmerman recently applied to the 3M Collision Instructor Training Program, which focuses on advanced body and refinishing techniques aligned with Original Equipment Manufacturer standards.

In his first two years of teaching, over 85 percent of his students earned one or more Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) Entry-Level Certifications in areas like safety, non-structural repair, refinishing, and damage analysis.

The collision repair program follows Georgia career, technical and agricultural education standards, incorporating ASE and I-CAR-based techniques to ensure that students gain current, industry-relevant skills that meet today’s shop expectations.

The prize, now in its ninth year, was created to recognize excellent high school skilled trades teachers, a group of educators who are often overlooked and underappreciated. As of today, over $10 million has been awarded to more than 180 teachers and their programs through the prize.

The mission of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is to increase understanding, support, and investment in skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. The winners teach a variety of skilled trades, including construction, carpentry, welding, automotive, agricultural mechanics, advanced manufacturing, and industrial technology. This year’s winners represent 18 states: Arizona, California, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Minnesota, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was started in 2017 by Eric Smidt, owner and founder of Harbor Freight Tools.

“In recent years we have seen growing support for the expansion of skilled trades education in high schools,” Smidt said. “The skilled trades are experiencing significant labor shortages and these outstanding teachers are leading the way in developing a new generation of skilled trades professionals.”

“Through a rigorous application process, our prize winners shared their unique depth of experience and skill for teaching the skilled trades,” said Danny Corwin, executive director of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools. “In addition to the cash awards, they will join a network of more than 150 previous winners working to help boost skilled trades education locally and nationally.”

This year there were more than 1,000 applications for the prize. The application process included three rounds of judging, each by an independent panel of experts from education, industry, nonprofits, and philanthropy.

The 25 winners and their programs will receive a total of $1.5 million in cash prizes:

Five Grand Prize Winners: $100,000 each ($70,000 for the school’s skilled trades program and $30,000 for the teacher)

Twenty Prize Winners: $50,000 each ($35,000 for the school’s skilled trades program and $15,000 for the teacher)

In some cases, due to school, district, or state policy, the schools’ skilled trades programs will receive the entire prize.

This is the case at Union County High School, where all of Mr. Zimmerman’s prize winnings will go directly to the program.

About Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is a program of The Smidt Foundation, established by Harbor Freight Tools owner and founder Eric Smidt, to advance excellent skilled trades education in U.S. public high schools. With a deep respect for the dignity of these fields and for the intelligence and creativity of people who work with their hands, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools aims to drive greater understanding and investment in skilled trades education.

Access to quality skilled trades education provides high school students with pathways to graduation, good jobs, and the workforce our country needs. Harbor Freight Tools is a major supporter of the program.