By Amanda Conger Executive Director National Woods Board 2025 was a pivotal year for the National Woods Board (NWB). What started as a bold idea—to make high-quality woodworking education accessible, modern, and industry-driven—has evolved into a proven model that is gaining momentum across the country. I’m excited to share where we are with our program, […]
The Architectural Woodwork Institute Educational Foundation (AWIEF) is accepting applications for student scholarships and woodworking education program grants. The deadline for submitting scholarship applications is January 31, 2026. The deadline for Academic Grant Program applications is March 31, 2026. AWIEF Scholarship Program AWIEF allocates funds to a yearly scholarship fund, ensuring deserving students receive the […]
The North American Building Material Distribution Association (NBMDA) published “How Can Distributors Partner with Local Schools.” The hand-out was authored by Mark Smith, former woodworking instructor at Reed Custer High School in Braidwood, Illinois, and now Brand Ambassador for Microvellum as well as chairman of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s Education Committee. Smith […]
Kristine Cox, vice president of administration for Rowland Woodworking, and a member of the Woodwork Career Alliance of North America’s Board of Directors, was recently honored as a “Market Leader” by Woodworking Network. The award recognizes Cox not only for her work at R0wland Woodworking alongside her husband Jeff, but also for her dedicated efforts […]
I am pleased to report that the WCA recently launched a series of online training courses designed to provide a foundational understanding of woodworking for new employees. This new initiative aims to help wood manufacturing companies overcome the challenges of in-house training and accelerate their new hires’ productivity. The courses might also be of benefit […]
The Woodwork Career Alliance of North America is pleased to welcome the following new members and renewing sponsors. Thank you for your membership and support! New EDUcation™ Member Coe-Brown Northwood Academy – Northwood, NH New MANufacturing™ Members: The Scobis Company – Chesterfield, MO UDI – Rogers, AR INDustry™ Gold Sponsor Renewals Grizzly Industrial — Bellingham, […]
Cerio is the third Woodwork Career Alliance Educator in four years to be honored in Harbor Freight Tools for Schools annual awards program. LINCOLN, Neb. — Jon Cerio, ACE Academy Instructor at Gov. John R. Rogers High School in Puyallup, Washington, was honored with the 2025 Harbor Freight Tools for Schools (HFTS) Prize for Teaching […]
Using the Woodwork Career Alliance’s credentialing program helps guide students from basics to advanced skills. At Cedar Ridge High School in Hillsborough, North Carolina, the woodshop is a serious career and technical education (CTE) program where students have the opportunity to become industry-ready woodworkers. At the helm is Avery Pipkin, a teacher whose own […]
Tension & Flow by Ky Frederick Crossroad Coffee Table by Tyler Harris Ky Frederick, a student at Lincoln East High School, won first place for “Tension & Flow” in the Design for Production category of the Freshwood student design and build competition at the 2025 AWFS Fair in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Tyler Harris, also of […]
We’re pleased to make some of the informational materials from educational sessions at the AWFS Fair in Las Vegas available for download. For a limited time, you can access these documents without a Woodwork Career Alliance (WCA) membership. We encourage you to take advantage of this now, as access may be restricted to WCA members […]