Tool retailer awards $50,000 to Indiana high school welding teacher
MONTICELLO, Ind. (WISH) — A California-based tool retailer has recognized a west-central Indiana welding teacher for outstanding instruction in skilled trades.
Kim Rosenbaum, an educator for the seven years at Twin Lakes High School, received a $50,000 award from Harbor Freight Tools. The retailer has given out the yearly award since 2017.
Rosenbaum was a welder before becoming a teacher at Twin Lakes, according to a news release from Harbor Freight Tools. In the school, she’s expanded the number of welding booths from seven to 16, and got a metal-cutting machine and a 3D printer for the classroom. She also started the Twin Lakes robotics team and an after-school welding club.
Her welding students take their skills into the community, fixing fences and seawalls, creating public art, and building a lighted float for a Christmas parade.
Students also help Rosenbaum with her Women in Welding program that teaches the trade to people in the community.
More than 700 educators from 49 states were nominated for the 2021 prize, and 43 other finalists received $1,000 gift cards from Harbor Freight Tools. Other people who were nominated but not finalists received $200 gift cards.
Monticello is about 50 miles northwest of Indianapolis.
