Local teacher receives $50,000 award
On Tuesday Quint Dunlap, Automotive teacher at Pinecrest High School and Pastor of Pleasant View Friends Church in Eagle Springs, received the 2024 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. He is one of only 25 awardees nationwide out of over 900 applicants who received the award.
In attendance to honor Mr. Dunlap were his family, students, and colleagues. To also celebrate the award were the following who spoke at the surprise occasion:
Stephenie Phillips Principal of Pinecrest High School.
Mike Fenley on behalf of U.S. Senator for N.C. Thom Tillis.
Sam Shumate on behalf of U.S. Senator for N.C. Ted Budd.
Tanner Hood on behalf of Representative Richard Hudson.
Brad Campbell on behalf of Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.
Moore County Schools Superintendent Dr. Tim Lockair.
“It’s a true honor and blessing to be a part of Pinecrest and Moore County Schools,” said Dunlap.
Dunlap opened his remarks by telling the crowd how he is a car guy. When he and his wife married, he was a mechanic working 9-5, and she was a teacher. “She had summers off and I was having to go to work. This isn’t going to work,” said Dunlap.
He began his teaching career at a school in another county building an automotive program before later coming to Pinecrest.
“When I look at these kids, I think of my kids. I want them to be talked, spoken too, the same way I want my kids to be talked to, said Dunlap.”
He also thanked the central office staff and Mrs. Patterson from Pinecrest. He spoke about how CTE teachers are a team.
He received a $50,000 check as an award. $35,000 to the school and $15,000 to Mr. Dunlap.
In a press release Harbor Freight Tools said;
“The winners teach a variety of skilled trades, including construction, carpentry, welding, automotive, agricultural mechanics, advanced manufacturing, and industrial technology.
The prize, now in its eighth year, was created to recognize excellent high school skilled trades teachers, a group of educators who are frequently overlooked and underappreciated. Since 2017, more than $8.9 million has been awarded to over 150 teachers and their schools’ programs.
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.
This year there are winners from 19 states, including: California, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Washington, and Wisconsin.
The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence was started in 2017 by Eric Smidt, owner and founder of Harbor Freight Tools.”
Written by Curtis Self.
Photo by Curtis Self.
This article is sponsored by Simply Avilee. For the fall line of merchandise or to have something custom made visit www.simplyavilee.com or follow them on Facebook.
