Suddenly Called Out During Class, Awarded $100,000 as Students Cheer in the Gym

'Harbor Freight Tools for Schools' Award Winner

Students Gather for a Surprise Celebration... $100,000 Prize

A technology teacher at a high school in the United States was brought to the gym during class, only to become the recipient of a $100,000 (approximately 140 million won) prize, as students gathered to surprise him with enthusiastic cheers.

According to reports from the New York Post and other US media outlets on October 3 (local time), Gregory Krause, who teaches automotive technology at Amistad High School in Indio, California, was recently chosen as the grand prize winner of the "2026 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence."

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That morning, Krause was teaching his regular auto repair class when a school official suddenly entered the classroom and told him to suspend the lesson. Claiming there was a matter related to the school budget to discuss, the official asked Krause to step outside. After passing his students to a guidance counselor, Krause was led to the gym.

However, what awaited him in the gym was not a budget meeting. Instead, a group of students who had gathered to surprise Krause were waiting for him. As he entered, the students welcomed him with high fives. Krause soon learned he had been selected as the grand prize winner. In front of him was a giant check made out for $100,000. During the event, Krause smiled, took a deep breath, and looked around; at one point, his eyes welled with tears.

This award does not provide the entire sum to the teacher personally. Of the total, $30,000 (about 42.6 million won) goes directly to the teacher, while the remaining $70,000 (about 99.4 million won) is designated for investments in career and technical education programs where students learn real-world skills. In an interview with a local media outlet, Krause said, "This program is my passion," and added, "I started with the hope of positively changing even just one student at a time."

The award recognizes outstanding teachers and programs in the field of career and technical education (CTE) at public high schools. This year, a total of 25 grand prize winners were selected, including Krause.

Krause himself experienced a life-changing moment through his high school auto repair class. His first exposure to auto repair was as a high school student—he wanted a class that would allow him to work with his hands, so he chose auto repair. By the time he reached his senior year, Krause had a young daughter to support. As a single father, he needed to find stable employment and, leveraging the skills he learned in high school, he was able to secure a job in the automotive industry right after graduation.

Afterward, Krause worked in the automotive sector for about 15 years, which included a stint at Honda. However, over time, he wanted to do more than just make a living—he wanted to make a positive impact on others. His mother suggested that he become a teacher, passing on his automotive skills, but without a college degree, Krause hesitated. Eventually, with his mother's encouragement, he discovered that his extensive industry experience could qualify him to be a career and technical education teacher.

Krause obtained a master's degree in educational administration from California State University, San Bernardino, and began teaching at Amistad High School nine years ago. Since becoming a teacher, he has applied for the Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence every year, hoping to promote his school and program and offer better educational opportunities for students. Until this year, however, he had never advanced beyond the first stage of the selection process.

This year, Krause included more detailed stories about his students in his application. He specifically described what graduates went on to do after leaving school and how they had succeeded by applying skills they learned. Some of his former students are now working at Tesla, Toyota, Boeing, and similar companies.

Krause plans to use the prize money to purchase a new vehicle, diagnostic equipment, and various repair tools. His goal is to provide students with training environments that replicate the actual automotive industry setting they will encounter after graduation. He intends to consult with his students about what to purchase. Krause emphasized to them, "This program belongs to the students, and so does the equipment."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.