ACHS Teacher Scottie Cook Receives $50,000 Prize

ALEXANDER CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION TEACHER NAMED WINNER OF $50,000 NATIONAL TEACHING PRIZE

 

Alexander Central High School teacher Scottie Cook was surprised on Tuesday, Sept. 30 with a $50,000 prize recognizing excellence in skilled trades education.

Cook, who teaches Agricultural education at Alexander Central High School, is one of 25 winners of the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.

Cook and his school was presented with a $50,000 check at a surprise ceremony Tuesday morning at the campus. Central High School skilled trades program will receive $35,000, and Cook will receive $15,000.

In total, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools is awarding $1.5 million in prizes to 25 skilled trades teachers nationwide. 

About Prize Winner Scottie Cook:

“I’m passionate about creating a learning environment where students walk away with more than technical know-how—they gain real-world skills that make them employable and ready for whatever comes next. “

Scottie Cook teaches Agricultural Education at Alexander Central High School in Taylorsville, North Carolina. With more than 26 years of experience teaching Agricultural Mechanics, Cook brings a lifelong passion for agriculture and student success to the classroom. Growing up on a farm in North Carolina and participating in high school ag classes and Future Farmers of America inspired a career in agricultural education. After earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from NC State University, Cook became National Board Certified within just three years and had his certification renewed twice since. Through continuous professional development and industry collaboration, he has kept his instruction current, writing and receiving grants to bring in state-of-the-art tools and technology, including a CNC plasma table, CO₂ laser, sawmill, skid steer, and upgraded welding equipment.

His program offers students a safe, modern space to gain real-world skills through projects that progress from wiring circuits in Ag Mechanics I to building utility trailers in Metal Fabrication, and earning Briggs & Stratton certifications in Small Engines. Every student completes safety training before using professional grade equipment, and learning is enriched through guest speakers, FFA competitions, and unique community projects like the Safe Farm Steward Program, the only high school initiative of its kind in the U.S. Many graduates enter welding, construction, electrical, agricultural production, or even return as agriculture teachers, equipped with the technical expertise, confidence, and career readiness cultivated in this award-winning program.

Notes of Excellence

●          Cook has secured significant grant funding (including a $64,000 state grant) to acquire modern, industry-grade equipment such as a CNC plasma table, CO₂ laser, sawmill, skid steer, and upgraded welding tools, greatly expanding student learning opportunities.

●          Cook’s is the only high school program in the U.S. to train agriculture students in the Safe Farm Steward Program, allowing them to evaluate local farm equipment for safety and help reduce hazards and accidents.

●          Cook’s students have achieved regional and state-level FFA honors, including a first-place state finish in 2024 for Agricultural Mechanics and Gator Wars teams.

About the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence

Since 2017, Harbor Freight Tools for Schools has awarded over $10 million to more than 180 teachers and their programs. 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. In 2025, there are winners from 18 states.

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 a greater understanding of and investment in skilled trades education, believing that access to quality skilled trades education gives high school students pathways to graduation, opportunity, good jobs and a workforce our country needs. Harbor Freight Tools is a major supporter of the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools program. For more information, visit: HFTforschools.org. 

HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS, THE SMIDT FOUNDATION and HARBOR FREIGHT TOOLS FOR SCHOOLS PRIZE FOR TEACHING EXCELLENCE are registered trademarks owned or licensed by The Smidt Foundation.

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