Tool Scholarship Update

[Watertender]

I met with the senior HVACR students at the regional trade high school to talk with them about my tool scholarship and working in the trade.
I found out several things, some good, some bad and some disheartening. I had originally planned on giving each graduate of the program a basic set of tools and 1 deluxe set to the most promising graduate.
After interacting with the students I raised the criteria to get a basic set to an 85% final average in the class.
Of the 20 students who were there that day I observed many things. One kid had his head down on the table sleeping so soundly that he was snoring. Several others had ear buds in and were engrossed in their phones. Some were paying close attention to what I was saying and asked some very good questions.

I talked to the 2 best students in the class and couldn't decide between them as to which was the most deserving of the deluxe set so I am giving them both deluxe sets. Both of these students have good full-time jobs lined up with very successful commercial and industrial contractors.

I had the teacher send me a list of the students with their marks so I can figure out who is going to get a set of tools and who isn't. There is one exception to the 85% mark because the student will have an 84.5% but he has a job that he is already working at with a HVACR contractor.

I have spoken to several contractors and also the State about the students in the class. About 60% of them have some real potential but the other 40% are marginal at best. I gave the information about the contractors and the State positions to the teacher and told him to share it with the students that he feels will be successful. The Chief Engineers of the State facilities that I talked to are men who I trained and they have 7 openings for entry level jobs. 3 to be trained as Stationary Engineers and 4 as HVACR technicians.

Time will tell how successful this scholarship will be but I think it will be something worth doing yearly. That's the only way we will have good skilled trades people in the future.

 

[Bullthrower338]

Good on you @Watertender i hope the kids realize what you are doing for them!

 

[protoolman]

Wow, I hope these guys appreciate what you are doing for them. I've had similar thoughts over the years of a scholarship to my alma mater but not really the resources right now.

 

[Watertender]

The teacher stressed to the students that I am doing this out of my own pocket. That's why I raised the criteria for a basic set to an 85%. That way it sort of weeds out the underachievers. I don't mind helping someone if they are going to use the skills and tools.
I can't help my own son but I can help others in his honor and memory.

 

[GasGuzzler]

About 60% of them have some real potential but the other 40% are marginal at best.

These are above average numbers society-wide for that age group.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Outstanding Carl. Yes some of the youth today don't give a crap, don't know the meaning of effort and commitment, and expect to be handed everything for nothing. However there are still some youth who were brought up the right way and to work hard and earn what they receive. Those are the ones that will appreciate what you are doing and excel. You are doing a great thing and setting a great example.

I know my Son enjoyed going to Tech class (Building Trades) his Junior and Senior year of High School. He had several offers lined up with big company's that offered extremely good salary. He as you know he decided to take those skills to the Military (Navy Seabee). The Military is also a great place for them to put trade skills to use, and learn more while serving the Country. Seabees and Combat Engineers are well respected.
Imagine the sense of achievement and pride a kid could have if he/she completed a Trades class, lined up a well paying job in that trade, and served in the reserves also. My Son decided to go active duty (Navy Seabee). However, when he was home a month or so ago we went to a party at a friends house. This house over the years was the big hangout for all the kids, and parents alike (we all knew one another from youth and high school sports). One of my Son's friends he grew up with playing sports and was also in his Building Trades class decided to do just that. He lined up a great job with a large construction company and joined the Army Reserves (Combat Engineer) as well. That kid has a great thing going thanks to learning trade skills in High School. At 20yrs old he has a brand new truck, new motorcycle, his own apartment and a 401K started....nothing handed to him all earned on his own.

My Son intends to make a full career out of the Military. That could change. However thanks to the Trade skills he learned from taking Tech in High School and what he will learn as a Seabee he has a great opportunity in the civilian world if he decides to get out after his contract ends.....which is 5 years active and 3 reserve, or he can opt to stay after the 5 and reenlist. Either way he will be fine with a Trades background.

Trades are a good thing for todays youth. I applaud what you are doing Sir!

 

[GasGuzzler]

Yes some of the youth today don't give a crap, don't know the meaning of effort and commitment, and expect to be handed everything for nothing.

In my experience it's worse than that. Many don't work hard and don't expect much. Ho hum is pretty normal.

 

[contender]

Kudos on your tool scholarship "program" & idea. I think it's an EXCELLENT thing you are doing.

Sadly,, we have too many "kids" who go to a big college, get a degree in "Arts & Crafts" and think they are skilled & worth a LOT more than they really are. Trade schools on the other hand are where truly good skills are taught. And we will ALWAYS need tradesmen for all kinds of careers. It's sad that even there some of the kids fail to apply themselves and really earn the degree.

Life's realities often hit some kids very harshly, while others who planned things & worked for their needs succeed.
But we've always had that kind of people everywhere & in all skills.

 

[blume357]

Hopefully they will get it and understand.... I have a story I often tell to my fellow young sweeps about tools... that back in the early 80's when I started I on occasion had to do masonry work and it was not unusual to lose a trowel...no big deal, I'd just pick up another one from the local tool shed for about $3.00 and then a few months later it would get left somewhere and I go get another one... each time I did this I would look up on the top shelf and there was this $30 trowel. I would think who would spend $30 on a trowel? Keep in mind this was back in the early 80's... I then will look at the young guy I'm telling this to and say one day I had a little extra cash and was feeling frisky and bought that over priced trowel....then I reach in the back of my van an pull that trowel out .... just as good if not better than the day I bought it. A good tool will last you. Hopefully these young pups will get it.

 

[Watertender]

Some of them will go far and others will fizzle out. I am a believer in good tools. I have had enough of them stolen through the years. The tools I am giving are decent quality but not the best made.

My grandpa was a masonry contractor among other things. He swore by Goldblatt and Marshalltown tools. I have micrometers that are over 100 years old and I am the 5th or 6th owner.

When I work I lay my tools out on a towel and clean them after I am done with the job. I learned my trade from some of the best out there and am trying to pass it on to others. I ask one thing of anyone that I help and that is for them to do the same for someone in the future when they are successful.

 

[WanderLust]

Lucky enough to be poor and I qualified for a Job Training Partnership Act scholarship through the local community college. They trained me in diesel but I also had to attend other school classes (which I did well in).
At the end they gave us some nice tool sets and job references, which helped me to get started in a 30-year job. Still have nearly all those tools and they mean a lot to me!

 

[flattop44]

That's a great thing you are doing Carl.
FT44

 

[Watertender]

I had mentioned a basic tool set but forgot to show what is in it. Home Depot worked with me on the contents and price so I was able to get a better deal and assemble more sets. Through the years I have found out that I can do about 90% of what I have had to repair using this assortment of tools.
It's not an all encompassing set but it's useful and a little incentive for the HVACR students.

 

[Mike J]

About 60% of them have some real potential but the other 40% are marginal at best.

I remember when I was going through the apprenticeship program. We started with 57 people. 22 of us turned out. Our class started in '89 & completed our apprenticeship in '94 so those numbers aren't shocking.
I also remember there being times when I struggled with staying awake in class. I would spend my day working in the heat or cold then go sit down in a nice climate controlled room & listen to someone talk for four hours.

 

[Watertender]

I also remember there being times when I struggled with staying awake in class. I would spend my day working in the heat or cold then go sit down in a nice climate controlled room & listen to someone talk for four hours.

I was talking to the students at 9am. Unless the kid was working midnight shift he shouldn't have been sleeping during the class. I asked the teacher and he said that the kid is failing but he isn't disturbing the other students so he lets the kid sleep.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I was talking to the students at 9am. Unless the kid was working midnight shift he shouldn't have been sleeping during the class. I asked the teacher and he said that the kid is failing but he isn't disturbing the other students so he lets the kid sleep.

What's he doing to help the student improve and prevent him from failing? Probably afraid to say anything to the kid fearing backlash from parents and administration....I'd make the kid stand up in back of the classroom!

 

[Mike J]

I was talking to the students at 9am. Unless the kid was working midnight shift he shouldn't have been sleeping during the class. I asked the teacher and he said that the kid is failing but he isn't disturbing the other students so he lets the kid sleep.

Gotcha. I guess I was thinking evening classes because that was how our apprenticeship classes were done.

 

[blume357]

the transmission went out in my work van 3 summers ago (maybe 4?) during covid and it was going to be a month for the local place to get a rebuilt one and install it and so I decided to clean all the tools out and when I did this I did an inventory and the best I could come up with for a replacement value on all the tools was around $18,000.

 

[Kevin]

I was talking to the students at 9am. Unless the kid was working midnight shift he shouldn't have been sleeping during the class. I asked the teacher and he said that the kid is failing but he isn't disturbing the other students so he lets the kid sleep.

What you are doing is really really great.

I took a math class in the summer. It was in the mornings. BUT, I had an all night grocery store job, 10 pm to 6 am. So after work I would go eat breakfast and then go to class.

Just couldn't stay awake, and when I dropped the class, I remember the professor making some snide comments about me being out partying too late. I didn't bother correcting him.

All I'm saying, there could be many different reasons why that particular student can't stay awake.

 

[GasGuzzler]

The point of class is not a passing grade, it's to learn. I have seen people learn and make a failing grade but I have seen more pass without learning.