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Harbor Freight Tools for Schools with Shop Class Podcast

By Mark Wille


In this episode we interview two of The Harbor Freight Tools for Schools 2022 Award winners. Matt Blomquist and Leif Sorgule. To Kick-off the episode we have Tae Kang, program director for Harbor Freight Tools for Schools.


As you may know, Matt has been on a roll bringing awareness to the shop classes by connecting the industry to his unique shop class. Matt's students build a house from scratch ground up every single year. https://harborfreighttoolsforschools.org/



0:00 - Intro with Tae Kang (Program Director)

8:30 - Wining the awards (Matt and Leif)

27:40 -(past winner) Barbercheck

38:17 -Plan for the Money?

1:00:04-How to win

1:07:03-Making a video


Leif Sorgule has advanced skills in a diverse group of machines. Everything from robotics. We're glad to have him on the podcast as he is an inspiration and provides many resources for other shop teachers.


If you haven't been able to join us on the live show, go to our new YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj1e-d12xkE3Xs_13OZA0Ng (SUBSCRIBE) and check out some of our past episodes. We've been very fortunate to have some great guest covering some awesome topics from robotics and 3D printing to welding and building go-karts.


If you would like to be our highlighted guest on the show or know someone, we should try to get on LET US KNOW!!! Send us an email at the link below or DM us on Instagram @shopclasspodcast So join in on the live discussion and make sure to catch up on past episodes on our new Shop Class Podcast YouTube Channel. Can't wait to see everyone! Join the fun every Wednesday 8 pm (EST) 7 pm (CST) Google Meet ID: https://meet.google.com/vut-afhh-nfv


Check out some of the winners here:


Links to these great folks:


Are there Shop Class stories you would like to share? Introductions you would like to make? Please shaRE this with your community so that others can be inspired and bring these great programs to your town.


For those of you traveling to Chicago for #Phiuscon this week, travel safe and make sure you check out the presentation from a recent New York High School Graduate who is on his way to the University of Michigan in January of 2023 when his first semester begins: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dylan-ingui/ We have a special interview coming up with Dylan and another guest that you will not want to miss. He is joined with Matt Blomquist and a new Teacher in Taylorville and recent Graduate Thomas Nichols.


Thursday, October 27thPhiusCon Youth: Building As Climate Action, By Youth, For Youth

PhiusCon Youth 10:30 AM-12:00 PM DescriptionThis session, presented by youth for youth, will explore the connections between youth climate activism, building decarbonization, Passive House design, and high-performance building trades trading. What is the youth perspective on the climate crisis and how Passive House is a key solution? What are the tangible ways that today's youth can affect real change? How are youth already leveraging building science to create healthy and resilient buildings?

Youth tickets are available on the PhiusCon registration page for this discussion: https://www.phius.org/phiuscon/agenda/conference-schedule Speakers

  • James Hartford(Speaker)River Architects, PLLC, Partner, AIA, LEED AP, CPHC

  • Dylan Ingui(Speaker)University of Michigan

  • Thomas Nichols(Speaker)Taylorville High School, Vocational Instructor

  • Matt Blomquist(Speaker)Taylorville High School, Building Trades Instructor


Look for more updates on Shop Class Podcast with great frequency, a follow up on Matt B, more on Harbor Freight Tools for Schools and a whole bunch from the people who make #phiuscon so incredible right here on OffSiteDirt.com & on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/offsitedirtcom/and on IG: https://www.instagram.com/offsitedirt/


Are there Shop Class stories you would like to share? Introductions you would like to make? Please shaRE this with your community so that others can be inspired and bring these great programs to your town.

Remember to deliver the message of #offsitedirt to your peers with Ever EXPANDING REsults for growth and #greenstepsforward.

~Mark Wille


Thank You to Havelock Wool.



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