On October 14, 2026, New Castle School of Trades (NCST) hosted its fifth annual Scholarship Day. Community partners, corporate sponsors, civic groups, individual donors, and 90 students gathered at the school’s New Castle, PA campus. Families, faculty, and staff joined them to celebrate students who chose a career in the skilled trades.
The event made one thing clear: the community around NCST believes in trades education and is willing to invest in it.
Scholarship Day by the Numbers
This year, 90 NCST students received more than $225,000 in scholarships. That is a $45,000 increase from 2025 Scholarship Day, when students received around $180,000 in total.
Over the past five years, NCST’s Scholarship Day has awarded more than $700,000 to students. More than 50 businesses and organizations, civic groups, memorial funds, and local families support this investment in future tradespeople.
Each scholarship helps a student cover the cost of training. With less time spent worrying about tuition, students can spend more time in the shop earning their credentials. Focused training gives the community more prepared tradespeople.
Local Businesses and Groups Investing in the Workforce
Many of this year’s sponsors work in the same industries that NCST students are training to join. When a company funds a scholarship, they’re helping prepare the next technicians, drivers, and electricians their industry will need.
Trucking and heavy equipment. Yourga Trucking, PI&I Motor Express, Elite Gasfield Services, Snyder Associated Companies/Allegheny Mineral, and Norfolk Southern’s Trades on Track program funded students in Commercial Truck Driving and Heavy Equipment Operations. These gifts help fill the steady demand for drivers and operators in the region.
Manufacturing and industry. Ellwood Group, Tenaris, Zekelman Industries, Siemens, SMS group, Konecranes, and many other manufacturers sponsored students. Most of these awards went to students in electrical, industrial maintenance, welding, and machining programs. These are the trades that keep plants and production lines running.
Automotive. #1 Cochran, Pillar Auto Group, and Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service supported future auto technicians.
HVAC. Remco, Nova Tech Group, and the EGIA HVAC Hero Scholarship backed students learning heating and cooling to keep the AC systems of local businesses and homes working well.
Civic groups, memorials, and families. Support also came from American Legion Post 560, the Carovallesi Mutual Aid Society, the Beaver County Foundation, and GNC Credit Union. Several awards honored loved ones, including the Kurt Fehrs Memorial, the Benjamin Cadman Memorial Scholarship, the Cuppy’s Kids/Scott Cuppy Memorial Scholarship, and the Spaulding Family Scholarship. These gifts show that anyone, not just industry groups, can play a part in training the next generation of tradespeople.
Scholarships Across More Than a Dozen Programs
This year’s recipients were not limited to one or two trade programs. Students in over a dozen trade programs received scholarships. This means the sponsors’ generosity will impact many parts of the local workforce, not just one industry.
At the New Castle campus, recipients are training in:
- Automotive Technology
- Building Technology
- Combination Welding
- Commercial Truck Driving
- Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair
- Electrical Technology
- Heavy Equipment Operations
- Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology
- Machinist & CNC Manufacturing
- Motorcycle & Power Equipment Technology
- Refrigeration & A/C Technology
At the East Liverpool, OH campus, recipients are training in:
What the Scholarships Mean
Scholarship Day is about more than money. Each award tells a student that the community stands behind the work they put in, both during their training and in their future careers. It also shows that local employers and neighbors share NCST’s goal of keeping the trades strong.
Dennis Corrado, NCST School Director, spoke to that support:
“We are honored to gather with students, families, faculty, staff, industry partners, and community supporters who share a common belief: that education and skilled training can transform lives. Our deepest thanks go to America’s Trades Foundation and our partners throughout the region for investing in these students. Their support helps put quality training within reach and recognizes the commitment our students show in the classroom and the shop every day. Scholarship Day celebrates every recipient and the bright future of the skilled trades they will help build.”
2026 Scholarship Recipients and Sponsors
The table below lists this year’s sponsored awards, sorted by sponsor.
Note: Some students received more than one scholarship.
| Sponsor | Recipient | Program |
| #1 Cochran | William Carothers | Automotive Technology |
| America’s Trades Foundation | Matthew Farra | Electrical Technology |
| America’s Trades Foundation | Cameron Harvey | Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair |
| America’s Trades Foundation | David N’Guyen | Automotive Technology |
| American Legion Post 560 | Nicholas Logan | Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology |
| Anderson Brothers Tools | Angelo Sainato | Building Technology |
| Anderson Brothers Tools | Derrick McQuiston | Motorcycle & Power Equipment Technology |
| Aqua Pennsylvania | Robert Swope | Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology |
| Beaver County Foundation | Kristen Frew | Combination Welding |
| Benjamin Cadman Memorial Scholarship | John Black | Electrical Technology |
| Berner Air Curtains | Matthew Farra | Electrical Technology |
| Brueckner Group USA, Inc. | Jon Huffman Jr. | Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology Electrical Technology |
| Canduct Industries | Alexander Shutak | Machinist & CNC Manufacturing |
| Canduct Industries | Alexander Solansky | Electrical & Industrial Maintenance (East Liverpool) |
| Carovallesi Mutual Aid Society | Panormitis Kolidakis | Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology |
| CCL Container | James Black | Electrical Technology/Industrial Maintenance |
| CCL Container | Hunter Wright | Electrical Technology/Industrial Maintenance |
| Cuppy’s Kids/Scott Cuppy Memorial Scholarship, provided by Mr. Ron Cadman | Ni-Dre Burwell | Electrical Technology |
| Dearing Compressor & Pump Co. | Sadi Shearer | Combination Welding |
| Deep Well Services | Jesse Mayle | Electrical Technology |
| EGIA HVAC Hero Scholarship | Richard Foster | Refrigeration & A/C Technology |
| Elite Gasfield Services | Brandon M. Evans | Commercial Truck Driving |
| Elite Gasfield Services | Seth Harper | Heavy Equipment Operations/CDL |
| Elite Gasfield Services | Tristan Sauers | Heavy Equipment Operations/CDL |
| Ellwood Group | Michael Mango | Electrical Technology |
| Ellwood Group | Seth Slaughtenhaupt | Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology |
| Ellwood Group | Alexander Turner | Electrical Technology |
| Environmental Specialists, Inc. | Mark Morena | Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair |
| Fallsway Equipment | Nathan Podbros | Motorcycle & Power Equipment/Diesel/Automotive |
| Firmapak | Caroline Wargo | Building Technology |
| Flowline Division, Ezeflow USA | Marshall Mazei | Machinist & CNC Manufacturing |
| Flynn’s Tire & Auto Service | Alize Bortz-Richards | Automotive Technology |
| Freshmark Foods/Sugardale | Dylan Barnes | Refrigeration & A/C Technology |
| General Extrusions, Inc. | David Cox | Industrial Maintenance |
| GNC Credit Union | Javaughn McKnight | Electrical Technology |
| GW Becker, Inc. | Dillyn Sanders | Combination Welding |
| Haltec Corporation | Brandon Brown | Electrical & Industrial Maintenance (East Liverpool) |
| Jadco Manufacturing | Zade Lillie | Combination Welding |
| Jet Stream International | Corry Dunmyre | Machinist & CNC Manufacturing |
| Joy Baking Company | Jujuan Martin | Refrigeration & A/C Technology |
| KDC Printing Company | Josh Binion | Motorcycle & Power Equipment Technology |
| KDC Printing Company | Patrick Conner | Building Technology |
| KDC Printing Company | Jason Ingram | Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology |
| Konecranes | Nathan Dunfee | Electrical Technology/Industrial Maintenance |
| Kurt Fehrs Memorial | Ethan Fisher | Combination Welding |
| Mac Trailer Enterprises, Inc. | Nate Franitti | Combination Welding |
| Norfolk Southern Trades on Track | Cameron Harvey | Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair |
| Nova Tech Group | Royce Green | Refrigeration & A/C Technology |
| O’Neal Manufacturing Services | Donna Glacken | Electrical & Industrial Maintenance (East Liverpool) |
| Paradigm Digital Marketing Group | Cameron Harvey | Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair |
| PI&I Motor Express | Andrew Meager | Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair |
| Pillar Auto Group | Timothy Reddick | Automotive Technology |
| Preston Group | Robert Frantz | Automotive Technology |
| Remco, Inc. | Thomas Kane | Refrigeration & A/C Technology |
| Robinson Fans, Inc. | Zach Maurer | Combination Welding |
| Siemens Corporation | Drake Peterman | Electrical Technology |
| SMS group | Gary Chapman Jr. | Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology |
| Snyder Associated Companies, Inc./Allegheny Mineral | Danielle Bennett | Heavy Equipment Operations/CDL |
| Snyder Associated Companies, Inc./Allegheny Mineral | David Meyers | Heavy Equipment Operations/CDL |
| Spaulding Family Scholarship | Gavin Clutter | Refrigeration & Climate Control (East Liverpool) |
| Spaulding Family Scholarship | Emileigh Schlotter | Combination Welding (East Liverpool) |
| Sunbelt Solomon | Ayden Wright | Electrical Technology |
| Tenaris | Harley McQuiston | Electrical Technology |
| Vogel Holdings, Inc. | Natasha Flak | Diesel & Heavy Equipment Repair |
| Window World | Morris Thomas | Building Technology |
| Youngstown Oxygen | David Ensign | Electrical Technology |
| Yourga Trucking | Charles Brown | Commercial Truck Driving |
| Zekelman Industries | Ben Frisk | Industrial Electro-Mechanical Technology |
Become a Scholarship Sponsor
NCST’s scholarship program grows because people choose to get involved. A single scholarship can help a student pay for training, finish a program, and start a career close to home.
NCST sponsors come in many forms. Some are businesses that fund students going into the trades they hire for. Some are civic groups or clubs wanting to give back to their towns. Some are families who’ve created a memorial scholarship to honor a loved one for years to come.
Any person or group looking to make an impact on their community by supporting NCST students can learn more on the Corporate Sponsors page. Employers can also connect with graduates through NCST’s employer services. Anyone with questions can contact the school to talk about how to help the next class of skilled tradespeople.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can receive a scholarship on NCST Scholarship Day?
Scholarships go to students enrolled in NCST programs. In 2026, recipients came from both the New Castle and East Liverpool campuses.
Do students have to pay the scholarships back?
No. Scholarships are gift aid, so students do not repay them.
Can scholarships be used for CDL training?
Yes. In 2026, students in Commercial Truck Driving and Heavy Equipment Operations received awards to help pay for their training.
How can a business sponsor a scholarship?
Businesses can start by visiting the Corporate Sponsors page. The NCST team can then explain sponsorship options.
What is America’s Trades Foundation?
America’s Trades Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that funds scholarships for skilled trades students. It is one of the main supporters of NCST Scholarship Day.
Are gifts to America’s Trades Foundation tax-deductible?
The foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit, so gifts may be tax-deductible. Donors should check with a tax advisor about their own situation.
How else can students pay for trade school?
Many students qualify for financial aid, and veterans may use education benefits. NCST’s financial aid team can help students review their options.