Every year, ABC presents the Craft Instructor of the Year award to an instructor who possesses outstanding teaching credentials and demonstrates a commitment to effectively training the next generation of construction craft professionals. This instructor goes above and beyond the call of duty to provide a strong foundation of learning for the future of the workforce. His or her dedication to the high educational standards of the merit shop philosophy has made this instructor the instructor every student wants to have.
Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC), Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
Associated Builders and Contractors named Jerry Schwengels, a carpentry instructor at ABC’s Wisconsin chapter, as its 2008 Craft Instructor of the Year. Schwengels will be presented the Craft Instructor of the Year award March 8 during ABC’s 2008 National Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
ABC honored Jerry Schwengels, center, carpentry instructor at ABC’s Wisconsin chapter, as its 2008 Craft Instructor of the Year. Pictured with Schwengels: Jerry Gorski, left, 2008 ABC National chairman-elect, and Steve Greene, right, Vice President of the National Center for Construction Education & Research.“Jerry Schwengels’ dedication to craft excellence truly embodies the ideals of a merit shop construction craft instructor,” said Bill Fairchild, 2008 ABC national chairman. “Jerry is a recognized leader in his community and is well-loved by all of his students. It is an honor to recognize his efforts to train the next generation of construction craft professionals.”
Each year, ABC presents the Craft Instructor of the Year award to an instructor who possesses outstanding teaching credentials and demonstrates a commitment to preserving the high educational standards of the merit shop construction industry.
Schwengels has been an instructor in ABC of Wisconsin’s Carpentry Apprenticeship program at Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) in Fond du Lac, Wis., since 1989. During this time, Schwengels has taught 15 of the 18 apprentices who have placed first in the carpentry contest at ABC of Wisconsin’s annual Apprenticeship and Training Trust Skill Competition. Additionally, 11 of Schwengels’ apprentices have placed first, second or third in ABC’s annual National Craft Championships.
Schwengels is also active in his community, volunteering his apprentices to assist on building projects for a residential youth treatment facility, a non-profit day care center and the local Boys and Girls Club. Schwengels is the only instructor to win ABC of Wisconsin’s Instructor of the Year award twice.
As the 2008 Craft Instructor of the Year, Schwengels will receive a $3,500 cash prize from the Trimmer Education Foundation, ABC’s 501 (c)(3) educational affiliate, and a leather jacket and laptop computer from ABC’s educational affiliate, National Center for Construction Education and Research .
Schwengels was selected from a field of seven regional finalists for the 2008 Craft Instructor of the Year award. The regional winners are:
Region 1:
Electrical Instructor
Nominated by: ABC Southern California chapter
Region 2:
Carpentry Instructor
Nominated by: ABC Wisconsin chapter
Region 3:
Electrical Instructor
Nominated by: ABC Pelican chapter
Region 4: Electrical Instructor
Nominated by: ABC Mid-Tennessee chapter
Region 5: Electrical Instructor
Nominated by: ABC Chesapeake chapter
Region 6: Insulation Instructor
Nominated by: STARCON International
Region 7:
Masonry Instructor
Nominated by: ABC Southeast Pennsylvania chapter
Craft Instructor of the Year Past Winners