Rick Kading Trade Foundation Scholarship
Offered by Rick Kading Trade Foundation
About This Scholarship
The Rick Kading Trade Foundation was created in 2022 to push back against the skilled-trades shortage by putting scholarship dollars directly toward tuition for students entering the trades. Past winners include students training as electricians, HVAC technicians, plumbers, welders, and diesel technicians, so an electrical program is squarely within what the foundation funds.
The award is $1,000, paid directly to your school's registrar and applied to tuition, and each student can receive it once. The application is refreshingly simple compared to most scholarships: a fillable PDF application and a single letter of recommendation, emailed to the foundation — no essay, no portal account, no application fee.
Eligibility is broad: you need to be actively enrolled in, or accepted into, an accredited skilled trades program. Many past recipients have been Iowa students, which is where the foundation is based, but the posted criteria do not restrict applications by state. Applications for the current cycle are due March 31, 2027, with awards decided by April 30, 2027.
Eligibility
- Actively enrolled in or accepted into an accredited skilled trades program (electrician and other trades qualify)
- One letter of recommendation required
- Award may only be received once per student
How To Apply
- Download and complete the fillable PDF application from the foundation's scholarship page
- Request one letter of recommendation
- Email the completed PDF and letter to [email protected] by March 31, 2027
Frequently Asked Questions
Does an electrical program qualify?
Yes. The foundation funds students in accredited skilled trades programs, and past winners include students studying to become electricians alongside HVAC, plumbing, welding, and diesel technology students.
How is the money paid out?
The $1,000 award is applied directly to your tuition through your school's registrar, so you never handle the funds yourself.
Do I need to write an essay?
No essay is listed in the application requirements. You submit the fillable PDF application plus one letter of recommendation by email.