Nichole Hahn, Agricultural Teacher, Morris Inc., and AGE Corp

The team’s innovative teaching idea, “Welding, Woodworking, CDL Class,” focuses on developing a curriculum for students to gain workforce-ready skills in the areas of welding, woodworking and commercial driver’s license classes. The Voya Unsung Heroes grant will be used to update PPE for welding and woodworking, tools for welding and woodworking, update welding/woodworking equipment, welding booths, workbenches, and towards developing a commercial driver’s license class that would support the Fort Pierre economy through future job creation for graduating students. According to the team, community partners are already engaged and helping to develop curriculum. They shared that one community organization is partnering with the school district for the next 18 months to help develop course material for welding to ensure students will have the necessary skills to pursue that career path.