You don’t always need a four-year college degree to start a successful career in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). In fact, most trade professionals – someone who has specialized skills learned through training, rather than college – use STEM in their day-to-day jobs. Some examples include plumbers, carpenters, electricians, technicians, builders, and even some health care professions. 

Encourage your students to pursue trade professions by signing them up for the Trade Champions Challenge, a new STEM program for high school students. A partnership between Stanley Black & Decker and Discovery Education, the challenge will award prizes to winning students, including cash awards of up to $15,000. The contest ends on April 15.

“Discovery Education and Stanley Black & Decker have joined forces to bring making and doing into classrooms nationwide,” the competition states on its website. “Together, this partnership will empower student learning with a premier, STEAM-focused, cross-disciplinary initiative that invites students and educators to explore their worlds through building, making, and doing.”

To participate, students must create a profile on the competition website. Then, they must submit a 30-60 second video in which they tell their peers why they want to be a trade professional, and/or why they are enthusiastic about a trade career they are currently involved in. Next, students should post the video to YouTube and submit the URL to their profiles. 

The competition is an extension of Innovation Generation, which has a mission to encourage students to become makers with free digital STEM-focused lessons and interactive project guides. The program includes digital classroom tools for educators, including career profiles, classroom activities, and an educational webinar. 

Prizes include:

Grand Prize

One student will win a total of $15,000 and a Stanley Black and Decker Prize Pack

2nd Place

One student will win a total of $10,000 and a Stanley Black and Decker Prize Pack

3rd Place

One student will win a total of $5,000 and a Stanley Black and Decker Prize Pack

Visit the competition website for more information or to enroll.