(KLZA)-- Johnson-Brock Industrial Technology Teacher Ashton Bohling was awarded a $50 thousand prize Tuesday morning during a surprise assembly, recognizing her excellence in skilled trades education.

Bohling is one of 20 winners of the 2022 Harbor Freight Tools for schools Prize for Teaching Excellence. There were a record 768 applications from all 50 states for this years awards.

The Johnson-Brock High School skilled trades program will receive $35 thousand and Bohling will receive $15 thousand.

Bohling has been the industrial technology teacher at Johnson-Brock High School for the past two years. She has a Biology Endorsement, a Work Based Learning Endorsement and a Masters of Applied Science Endorsement.

Troy Leavitt with Harbor Freight Tools made the presentation. He called Indusrial Technology teachers are hero's who do not receive enough recognition.

Bohling said after being a finalist for the award last year, she was surprised when she entered the gymnasium Tuesday morning.

Bohling said the Johnson-Brock IT program is important to help train people for careers as electricians, welders and plumbers, especially in small communities. She also noted she feels its important for students to have time during the school day to brainstorm and create, design and build. She also noted that some students who don't really like school, thrive in the shop area.

Johnson-Brock Superintendent Jeff Koehler said it's amazing what Bohling has done with the IT program. He said the money will benefit students by bringing in up-to-date technology into the classrooms and give kids hands on experience they can take out into the real world.

Koehler said Bohling has been a tremendous person on staff for the students and the school district.

Bohling said the students have been thinking of ways to improve the shop and the program, even before they knew about the Harbor Freight prize. Those could include a redesign of the shop plus some needed upgrades to the electrical system in the shop.

Bohling and her students have developed a lawn mower maintenance business out of the programs shop so her agribusiness students can get a mix of hands-on work while learning about sales, marketing, pricing, invoicing and other business principals.

In the past year, Bohling has established the first Johnson-Brock Skilled Technical Sciences Advisory Council. It is composed of six local industry professional and three current students. The Council aims to identify skills necessary to prepare students to enter the workforce, identify employment / work based opportunities for students and identify further learning opportunities for Bohling to keep up with industry standards.