HICKORY — Hickory High School automotive teacher Terry Drum is among the national winners of the 2026 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools Prize for Teaching Excellence.
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools lists Drum as a Prize Winner for automotive instruction at Hickory High. The organization said Sept. 29 that 25 teachers and their programs will share $2 million in cash prizes this year, with winners announced at surprise celebrations in 18 states, including North Carolina.
Under the published prize structure, each of the 20 Prize Winners receives $75,000 — $50,000 for the school’s skilled trades program and $25,000 for the teacher. Five separate Grand Prize winners receive $100,000 each; Drum is listed in the Prize Winner group, not the Grand Prize group.
Harbor Freight Tools for Schools said more than 550 teachers from 49 states applied. The prize, started in 2017 by Harbor Freight Tools owner and founder Eric Smidt, recognizes skilled trades teaching in U.S. public high schools.
Hickory City Schools had no reachable news release naming Drum on its public site at the time of this check.
Source note
Tip that surfaced this story: local news report. Verified independently from Harbor Freight Tools for Schools: the 2026 Prize for Teaching Excellence winners list naming Terry Drum (Automotive, Hickory High School, NC) at https://hftforschools.org/prize-for-teaching-excellence/2026-prize/, and the Sept. 29, 2026 winners announcement “$2 Million in Cash Prizes Awarded to 25 Outstanding High School Skilled Trades Teachers and Their Programs” at https://hftforschools.org/newsroom/2-million-in-cash-prizes-awarded-to-25-outstanding-high-school-skilled-trades-teachers-and-their-programs/.
