The Shotwell Foundation, a Hurst-based nonprofit that provides vocational scholarships for students accelerating their careers in trades, awarded its first six scholarships in May to students in the Hurst Euless Bedford Independent School District.
“We have met with our three partner school districts – Hurst-Euless-Bedford, Birdville, and Grapevine-Colleyville, and the counselors from HEB ISD were the first to respond,” said Howard Shotwell, founder of the organization.
He added, “For the past several years, I’ve been reading and watching news stories about the dramatic shortage of skilled trades that our nation is experiencing, and the shortage is worsening. If we don’t act now, we won’t have enough healthcare workers, plumbers, electricians, firefighters, construction workers, automotive technicians, and advanced manufacturing workers.”
The foundation is helping open doors to promising careers through schools such as Tarrant County College and certificate programs.
The first four recipients, who received their $1,000 scholarships on May 5, had completed the Momentum Generations mentorship program with 6 Stones Mission Network in Euless. Of the four, three graduated from Euless Trinity High School, and the fourth graduated from KEYS High School. They were joined during the check presentations by Theo Bray, the 6 Stones Momentum Generations Coordinator.
On May 12, another KEYS High School graduate joined an L.D. Bell High School graduate to each receive their $1,000 scholarship.
Shotwell added, “We will continue to offer our scholarship program throughout the summer and into the fall until our first ten recipients are selected. The rising cost of a four-year college education is leading more students to seek earlier career opportunities through the skill trades.”
To apply for a Shotwell Foundation scholarship, please visit https://shotwellfoundation.com/ or email info@shotwellfoundation.com. The Shotwell Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit as recognized by the IRS.
About The Shotwell Foundation: Howard Shotwell served 10 years as CFO of Coors Distributing in Fort Worth following a 34-year career in airport concession operations management. He invited friends who shared his vision for providing vocational education: his wife, Sandy Shotwell, former Coors Distributing of Fort Worth CEO Larry Anfin, banker Randy McCauley, nonprofit officer Trasa Cobern, and PR consultant John Fletcher.
